Butyrate supplementation in the liquid diet of dairy calves leads to a rapid recovery from diarrhea and reduces its occurrence and relapses in the preweaning period

• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22670
• Publication Date: 2023-05-08T19:23:34Z
• Authors: M.S. Nicola; A.L. Kalb; A.A. Barbosa; B.E.S. Velasquez; J.A.A. Rincon; J.O. Feijó; E.N. Dellagostin; A.W.S. Martins; E.B. Blödorn; W.B. Domingues; F. Lopes; W.M. Quinteiro-Filho; R.G. Mondadori; V.F. Campos; V.R. Rabassa; E.R. Komninou; F.A.B. Delpino; M.N. Corrêa
• Keywords: Liquid diet

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of continuous butyrate administration in dairy calves' liquid diet considering diarrhea, metabolic profile, gastrointestinal development, and corporal growth. Immediately after birth, calves were randomly allocated into 2 groups 62 (50 females 12 males), with access water a solid feed ad libitum. group (BG) received 4 g/d sodium (Admix Easy, Adisseo) diluted whole milk, control (CG) milk no supplementation. Sodium was administered from d 1 life until weaning at 90 d. Feces consistency assessed daily for first 30 characterized by scores 0 (0 normal, 2, 3, abnormal feces). Diarrhea diagnosed when animals had feces fever. Morbidity, recurrence, mortality, lethality data recorded compared between groups. Average gain (ADG) growth (body weight, thoracic perimeter, height withers, croup width) evaluated weekly, day 30, later 45, 60, life. Blood samples taken weekly up determine circulating levels total calcium, phosphorus, chloride, bicarbonate, glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids. males euthanized 15 (n = 6 per group) morphometric, histological, gene expression analysis tract. results showed that BG lower rate morbidity (BG 30% vs. CG 50%) recurrence 26.7% 60%) diarrhea than CG. In addition, shorter period 4.64 ± 0.47 8.6 0.65 d). ADG tended be higher 60 Metabolic evaluations lowest glucose highest acids BG. On life, rumen papillae length, papilla area, duodenum villus crypt depth duodenal episodes did not receive transcripts LCT GLP2 genes. different ways, both neonatal affected IGF1, SLC5A1, AQP3. These allow us conclude supplementation improves reduces occurrence makes clinical conditions milder faster recovery, favoring Based on these results, we can indicated accelerate tract development prevent severe cases tending improve average weaning.