Effect of a molasses-based liquid supplement on gastrointestinal tract barrier function, inflammation, and performance of newly received feedlot cattle before and after a transport stress

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a dry versus a molasses-based liquid supplement on ruminal butyrate concentration, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) barrier function, inflammatory status, and performance of newly received feedlot cattle. In experiment 1, 60 mixed breed steers (234 ± 2.1 kg) were weaned, held overnight at a sale barn, then transported 14 h to Purdue University. After arrival, steers were weighed, blocked by body weight, and allotted within block to treatments (six pens per treatment and five steers per pen). Diets consisted of 45% roughage and 55% concentrate (dry matter basis). Treatments differed in the supplement source as follows: DRY: 10% dry supplement or LIQUID: 10% liquid molasses-based supplement. Feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), and gain:feed were determined for the three 21-d periods and overall. In experiment 2, 16 crossbred heifers (246 ± 7.5 kg) were used (8 heifers per treatment). Diets were the same as in experiment 1 and were fed for 60 d. On d 56 ruminal fluid samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, and 9 h after feeding. To mimic a stress event, heifers were transported for 4 h on d 61, rested overnight, and transported 12 h on d 62. Blood was collected from heifers immediately prior to transport and immediately upon their return. Gut barrier function using a Cr-EDTA marker was determined after transportation. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Steers fed the liquid supplement had greater (P ≤ 0.03) ADG through d 42 and overall compared to steers fed the dry supplement. Feed intake did not differ (P = 0.25) between treatments from d 0 to d 21. However, steers fed the liquid supplement showed greater (P < 0.001) dry matter intake after d 21 and overall compared to those fed the dry supplement. Steers fed the liquid supplement tended (P < 0.09) to have reduced serum haptoglobin and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) compared to those fed the dry supplement. Heifers fed the liquid supplement had greater (P = 0.02) Cr in urine and tended (P = 0.07) to have lower serum LBP after transport compared to those fed the dry supplement. Heifers fed the liquid supplement had 72% lower serum haptoglobin before, but only a 19% lower serum haptoglobin after transport compared to animals fed the dry supplement (treatment × time; P = 0.07). Therefore, the liquid supplement altered GIT barrier function, and improved inflammatory status, resulting in increased growth of receiving cattle.

Inhibition of mtDNA-PRRs pathway-mediated sterile inflammation by astragalus polysaccharide protects against transport stress-induced cardiac injury in chicks

“…Higher levels of inflammatory mediators, including proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6, are common phenotypes of cardiac inflammation and the main factors that cause inflammatory damage ( Quagliariello et al, 2021 ). A previous study demonstrated that IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were promoted in cattle after TS lasting for 6 h, suggesting that TS can aggravate the inflammatory response of animals ( Silva et al, 2023 ). In the present study, to further confirm that TS induces cardiac injury by triggering sterile inflammation and the anti-inflammatory effect of APS, we detected the levels of these proinflammatory factors and IFN-β.…”

Dietary Supplementation of Tannic Acid Promotes Performance of Beef Cattle via Alleviating Liver Lipid Peroxidation and Improving Glucose Metabolism and Rumen Fermentation

“…Oxidative stress in beef cattle, mainly induced by factors such as diet composition [ 14 , 15 ], rearing environment [ 16 ], and transportation [ 17 ], might be experienced throughout their growth and development, which could highly impair the growth performance and meat quality of beef cattle [ 14 ]. Current research on TAN in ruminants mainly focuses on methane (CH 4 ) emission [ 5 ] and nitrogen utilization [ 5 , 18 ].…”

NCCC308: Nutrition and Management of Feedlot Cattle to Optimize Performance, Carcass Value, and Environmental Compatibility – Feature Collection - Nutrition and Management of Finishing Cattle

“…To enhance management strategies that improve animal health and well-being ( Beenken-Bobb et al, 2023 ; Dornbach et al, 2023 ; Gouvêa et al, 2023 ; Rients et al, 2023 ; Silva et al, 2023 ).…”