Effect of supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or β-glucans on performance, feeding behaviour and immune status of Holstein Friesian bull calves during the pre- and post-weaning periods

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious research in both calves and other species has suggested n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and β-glucans may have positive effects on immune function. This experiment measured performance, behaviour, metabolite and immunological responses to pre-weaning supplementation of dairy bull calves with n-3 PUFA in the form of fish oil and β-glucans derived from seaweed extract. 44 Holstein Friesian bull calves, aged 13.7 ± 2.5 d and weighing 48.0 ± 5.8 kg were artificially reared using an electronic feeding system. Each calf was offered 5 L (120 g/L) per day of milk replacer (MR) and assigned to one of four treatments included in the MR, (1) Control (CON); (2) 40 g n-3 PUFA per day (FO); (3) 1 g β-glucans per day (GL) and (4) 40 g n-3 PUFA per day & 1 g/d β-glucans (FOGL) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Milk replacer and concentrate was offered from d 0–62 (pre-weaning), while concentrate provision continued for a further 31 d post-weaning period. Individual daily feed intake and feeding behaviour was recorded throughout, while bodyweight and blood analyte data were collected at regular intervals.ResultsOverall mean concentrate DMI from d 0–93 was 1.39, 1.27, 1.00 and 0.72 kg/d for CON, FO, GL and FOGL calves, respectively (SEM = 0.037; P < 0.0001). Calves supplemented with GL were significantly lighter (P < 0.0001) at both weaning (d 62) and turnout to pasture (d 93) than un-supplemented calves, with a similar effect (P < 0.0001) evident for calves receiving FO compared to un-supplemented contemporaries. Supplementation with GL reduced the number of unrewarded visits where milk was not consumed (P < 0.0001) while supplementation with FO increased mean drinking speed (P < 0.0001). Supplementation with GL resulted in greater concentrations of haptoglobin (P = 0.034), greater serum osmolality (P = 0.021) and lower lymphocyte levels (P = 0.027). In addition, cells from GL supplemented calves exhibited a lower response than un-supplemented contemporaries to both Phytohaemagglutinin A stimulated IFN-γ (P = 0.019) and Concanavalin A stimulated IFN-γ (P = 0.012) following in vitro challenges.ConclusionsPre-weaning supplementation of bull calves with either n-3 PUFA or β-glucan resulted in reduced voluntary feed intake of concentrate and consequently poorer pre-weaning calf performance. There was no evidence for any beneficial effect of either supplementation strategy on calves’ immune responses.

Effect of supplementation fat during the last 3 weeks of uterine life and the preweaning period on performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, passive immunity and health of the newborn calf

“…Furthermore, Benson et al (55) reported that dairy cows infused, via the abomasum, with a mixture of sunflower and rapeseed oils did not alter their daily time spent engaged in eating, ruminating and idling activities. Similarly, McDonnell et al (56) found that feeding behaviour of bull calves was not altered with fish oil supplementation during the preweaning period.…”

The effect of supplemental bioactive fatty acids on growth performance and immune function of milk-fed Holstein dairy calves during heat stress

“…McDonnell et al (39) have noted a reduction in starter intake in calves that received FO supplemented through milk replacer. With respect to the individual FAs, our results show an increase in dietary consumption of specific FA in experimental animals compared to the control group (linoleic and linolenic acid in the SBO diet and EPA and DHA in the FO diet).…”

“…McDonnell et al (39) have reported a significant increase in plasma levels of EPA and DHA in calves fed FO supplemented milk replacer compared to a control group. Lower inflammatory signs in FO supplemented calves can be related to higher long-chain PUFA contents of the plasma (39,41) .…”

“…Hill et al (7) stated that the inclusion of a mixture of FA sources (butyrate, medium-chain FA, and α-linolenic acid) in the starter diet of dairy calves reduced the inflammatory effects of vaccination. In addition, McDonnell et al (39) reported lower rectal temperatures for FO supplemented calves compared to non-supplemented calves.…”

Nutraceuticals

“…56 In a recent study replacing 2% of the total DM with fish oil fed to preweaned calves did not reduce the serum haptoglobin concentrations or mitogen-induced interferon-g secretion. 58 In contrast, Garcia and colleagues 60 supplemented preweaned calves with either a low or high omega-6 linoleic acid milk replacer (0.46% or 9.0% of the total fatty acids, respectively) and reported that the high linoleic acid treatment had many differentially expressed genes in the liver that should predict a reduced risk of infection. The linoleic fatty acid compositions used in the study of Garcia and colleagues likely reflect milk diets based on milk fat (low linoleic acid) and those in which the primary fat source is based on lard (high linoleic acid).…”