Effects of microencapsulated sodium butyrate on performance, blood metabolites and nutrient digestibility of suckling Holstein calves

Research method: For this experiment, 24 newly-born Holstein calves (average age 1-10 days, average weight 39±1 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 8 replications. The experimental treatments were: 1) Starter diet with no additive (control), 2) Starter diet with 5 g of sodium butyrate per day, 3) Starter diet with 15 g of microencapsulated sodium butyrate per day. Starter diet and water were available adlibitum throughout the experiment. Experimental calves were fed with 4 Kg whole milk from birth to d 14 in two meals, 6 Kg milk from d 14 to 60 in two meals and 3 Kg milk from d 60 tile 65 in one meal and weaned at d 65. In order to evaluate performance, calves were weighed every two weeks and daily weight gain was calculated by the subtraction. Starter intake was determined from the difference between the offered feed and the refusal remainder the next day. Blood sampling were taken monthly (two times) from jugular vein in two stage of all calves 4 hours after morning feeding and blood plasma was separated by centrifuging (3500 rpm for 10 min) and kept at -20 ° C til until the analysis test. Nutrient digestibility was measured by using acid insoluble ash as external marker.
Findings: The results showed that the addition of microencapsulated sodium butyrate in starter diet of suckling calves had no effect on final body weight, starter intake and feed conversion ratio of calves. Calves fed 15 gr of microencapsulated sodium butyrate had significantly higher daily gain in first month and total experiment period compared to control ones (p < 0.05). The results showed that supplementing calves with butyrate supplements, encapsulated or common sodium butyrate, did not influence blood concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, total protein, and blood urea at d 30 or 65 experiment whereas blood beta-hydroxy butyrate concentration was higher in calves fed microencapsulated form compared to control calves (P <0.05). Feeding butyrate supplements had no effects on digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude fat and neutral detergent fiber. Protein digestibility increased significantly by feeding the microencapsulated form of sodium butyrate compared to the control (P <0.05). Gorka et al. (2009) reported that use of butyrate in starter of calves had not significant effect on body weight gain. Different between results can due type and level of butyrate supplementation and combination of ratio. Savary et al. (2010) stated that addition butyrate in the starter of calves had not effect on total protein an albumin concentration compare with control group. Ferreira and Bittar reported that blood beta-hydroxy butyrate concentration had not affected by addition butyrate supplementation. Deymeh et al. (2014) reported that supplement starter of calves with butyrate causing improve protein digestibility.
Conclusion: The results of this study proposed that addition of microencapsulated sodium butyrate, compared to common sodium butyrate, based on its positive effects on performance and nutrient digestibility and blood beta-hydroxy butyrate concentration can be recommended in rearing suckling calves.

Research method: For this experiment, 24 newly-born Holstein calves (average age 1-10 days, average weight 39±1 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 8 replications. The experimental treatments were: 1) Starter diet with no additive (control), 2) Starter diet with 5 g of sodium butyrate per day, 3) Starter diet with 15 g of microencapsulated sodium butyrate per day. Starter diet and water were available adlibitum throughout the experiment. Experimental calves were fed with 4 Kg whole milk from birth to d 14 in two meals, 6 Kg milk from d 14 to 60 in two meals and 3 Kg milk from d 60 tile 65 in one meal and weaned at d 65. In order to evaluate performance, calves were weighed every two weeks and daily weight gain was calculated by the subtraction. Starter intake was determined from the difference between the offered feed and the refusal remainder the next day. Blood sampling were taken monthly (two times) from jugular vein in two stage of all calves 4 hours after morning feeding and blood plasma was separated by centrifuging (3500 rpm for 10 min) and kept at -20 ° C til until the analysis test. Nutrient digestibility was measured by using acid insoluble ash as external marker.
Findings: The results showed that the addition of microencapsulated sodium butyrate in starter diet of suckling calves had no effect on final body weight, starter intake and feed conversion ratio of calves. Calves fed 15 gr of microencapsulated sodium butyrate had significantly higher daily gain in first month and total experiment period compared to control ones (p < 0.05). The results showed that supplementing calves with butyrate supplements, encapsulated or common sodium butyrate, did not influence blood concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, total protein, and blood urea at d 30 or 65 experiment whereas blood beta-hydroxy butyrate concentration was higher in calves fed microencapsulated form compared to control calves (P <0.05). Feeding butyrate supplements had no effects on digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude fat and neutral detergent fiber. Protein digestibility increased significantly by feeding the microencapsulated form of sodium butyrate compared to the control (P <0.05). Gorka et al. (2009) reported that use of butyrate in starter of calves had not significant effect on body weight gain. Different between results can due type and level of butyrate supplementation and combination of ratio. Savary et al. (2010) stated that addition butyrate in the starter of calves had not effect on total protein an albumin concentration compare with control group. Ferreira and Bittar reported that blood beta-hydroxy butyrate concentration had not affected by addition butyrate supplementation. Deymeh et al. (2014) reported that supplement starter of calves with butyrate causing improve protein digestibility.
Conclusion: The results of this study proposed that addition of microencapsulated sodium butyrate, compared to common sodium butyrate, based on its positive effects on performance and nutrient digestibility and blood beta-hydroxy butyrate concentration can be recommended in rearing suckling calves.