Increased Fecal Lactate and Decreased Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA), Particularly n-Butyrate Concentrations in Diarrheic Young Calves

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Using 24 diarrheic dairy calves under 8 weeks old, multiple fecal samples (4-12) were collected individually during the clinical advancing (max. 10 days) to evaluate the importance of fecal ammonia, lactate and volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels. Removing 3 calves not recovered during the sampling, 21 calves were grouped into under 3 weeks (< 3 wk; n=11) and 3-8 weeks old (3-8 wk; n=10). Data were divided into diarrheic and recovered feces with averaging in individuals. Diarrheic feces showed lower VFA and n-butyrate, and higher acetate proportions than recovered feces at <3 wk, but not at 3-8 wk. Diarrhea showed higher lactate, and lower ammonia and minor VFA (i-butyrate, valerate), which might reflect insufficiency in gut flora and fermentation. KEY WORDS: calf diarrhea, colonic fermentation, fecal ammonia, fecal VFA, feces lactate.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 71(1): 117-119, 2009 Many calves suffer with diarrhea in early life by infectious, nutritional and other factors. The large intestine has an important function in relation to diarrheic pathophysiology. Nutrients that escaped small intestinal digestion are exposed to large bowel fermentation accompanying various intermediates and final products. Comparing with adults, the colon of young mammals is a primary site of microbial colonization because they get most nutrients from liquid milk, not from solid diets. Moreover, gut flora of neonatal mammals is less developed [3] and the immature flora produce large quantities of intermediates such as lactate, succinate and alcohols in calves [8,9]. With advancing age and gut flora, most of these intermediates are converted mainly to volatile fatty acid (VFA) which consist predominant anions in the large bowel [2]. Calf diarrhea has broken out by the upset of delicate balance between calves' gut integrity and gut flora during the postnatal life; however, information on fecal fermentative properties including organic anions is limited in relation to diarrhea. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the fecal profiles brought by colonic fermentation within individual calves which experienced both of diarrhea and recovery during the clinical advancing.Twenty-four diarrheic calves (22 male and 2 female; 22 Holstein and 2 Jersey) visited the animal clinic of Rakuno Gakuen University were used. The calves were less than 8 weeks old at fecal collection described latter. They were given approximate 4 kg of milk replacer daily and were free accessed to water, calf starter and hay. Twelve calves infected with cryptosporidium and two had coccidia; however, the cause of the diarrhea was not fully evaluated in the others. Some calves were given probiotics and medical charcoal with the milk replacer, but no antibiotics.In each calf, multiple fecal samples were collected from the rectum during 4-10 days period of clinical advancing. In some calves, fecal samples were taken twice daily or by interval of 2 to 3 days. Sample size in individual calves was 4-12, and total 182 feces were collected from the 24 calves. In...

Fecal Trimethylamine, Lactate and Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations and Their Relationships with Diarrhea in Newborn Dairy Calves

“…This result is consistent with a finding that increased n-butyrate proportions were associated with recovery from diarrhea in young calves [9]. This implies a physiological significance of n-butyrate for intestinal health.…”

Flow Behavior of Digesta and the Absorption of Nutrients in the Gastrointestine

“…Succinic (pK, 4.2) and lactic acids (pK, 3.7) are stronger acids compared with short-chain fatty acids (pK, 4.8-4.9) and are intermediates in the global fermentation cascade of short-chain fatty acids (55). The accumulation of succinic and lactic acids increases acidity, which further enhances succinic and lactic acid accumulation in the large intestine (55). Then, accumulation of succinic and lactic acids inhibits Nutrients should reach to epithelium by self-diffusion.…”

Changes in the Profile of Fecal Microbiota and Metabolites as Well as Serum Metabolites and Proteome After Dietary Inulin Supplementation in Dairy Cows With Subclinical Mastitis

“…The oven temperature was initially set at 60°C for 3 min and then increased at 10°C/min to 140°C and then held for 30 min. The detector temperatures were maintained at 300°C ( Sato, 2009 ). The concentration of LA was determined by using a lactate assay kit (MAK064, Sigma-Aldrich, Darmstadt, Germany).…”