Supplementation of lysolecithin in milk replacer for Holstein dairy calves: Effects on growth performance, health, and metabolites

Abstract

Lysolecithin is an antiinflammatory emulsifier associated with improved apparent digestibility of total dietary fat and improved feed efficiency in dairy cattle. However, it is unknown if lysolecithin (LYSO) improves performance in calves. Moreover, since many conventional milk replacers use vegetable-sourced fat (e.g., palm oil), nutrient absorption and fecal score may be affected in neonatal calves. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of LYSO supplemented in milk replacer on performance, metabolites, and gut health of preweaned dairy calves. Holstein calves (n = 32) with adequate passive transfer were assigned in pairs (16 blocks) balanced by birth weight, date of birth, and sex at 1 d of age to randomly receive either LYSO (mixed in 2 milk replacer feedings at a rate of 4 g/d Lysoforte, Kemin Industries Inc., Des Moines, IA) or a milk replacer control (nothing added). Both treatments were fed 6 L/d milk replacer [22.5% crude protein, 16.2% crude fat (vegetable oil fat source) on a dry matter basis with 14% solids] by bucket in 2 daily feedings for 56 d. Calves were individually housed in wooden hutches and offered a commercial calf starter (24.6% crude protein and 13.9% neutral detergent fiber) and water by bucket ad libitum. Feed refusals and calf health was assessed daily. Weights and blood metabolites (glucose, total serum protein, albumin, creatinine, triglycerides, and cholesterol) were sampled weekly, and calves completed the study before weaning at 56 d of age. The effects of LYSO on calf average daily gain, feed efficiency, and blood metabolites were evaluated using a linear mixed model with time as a repeated measure, calf as the subject, and block as a random effect in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The effect of LYSO to improve the odds of abnormal fecal score was evaluated using a logistic model. Supplementation of LYSO increased average daily gain (control 0.28 ± 0.03 kg; LYSO 0.37 ± 0.03 kg; least squares means ± standard error of the mean) and increased feed efficiency (gain-to-feed; control 0.25 ± 0.03; LYSO 0.32 ± 0.03). Similarly, LYSO calves had a higher final body weight at d 56 (control 52.11 ± 2.33 kg; LYSO 56.73 ± 2.33 kg). Interestingly, total dry matter intake was not associated with LYSO despite improved average daily gain (total dry matter intake control 1,088.7 ± 27.62 g; total dry matter intake LYSO 1,124.8 ± 27.62 g). Blood glucose, albumin, creatinine, triglycerides, and cholesterol were not associated with LYSO. Indeed, only total serum protein had a significant interaction with LYSO and age at wk 5 and 6. Moreover, control calves had a 13.57 (95% confidence interval: 9.25-19.90) times greater odds of having an abnormal fecal score on any given day during the diarrhea risk period from d 1 to 28. The inclusion of LYSO as an additive in milk replacer in a dose of 4 g/d may improve performance, and calf fecal score, preweaning. Further research should investigate the mechanisms behind the effects of LYSO on fat digestibility in calves fed 6 L/d of mil...

Effects of supplementation with lysophospholipids on performance, nutrient digestibility, and bacterial communities of beef cattle

“…In the present study, the linearly increased in the digestibilities of DM, EE, and CP with increasing supplementation of LPL, which is consistent with the findings of Song et al ( 26 ) who found that supplementation of dietary LPL (0.3 or 0.5% w/w) increased the DM digestibility of beef cattle. In the present study, an assumption was made that the nutrient digestibility of EE was improved due to LPL being able to effectively reduce the size of fat globules and form smaller micelles in the guts of animals, thereby increasing the larger surface areas of lipid droplets for pancreatic lipases to interact so that more fatty acids would be incorporated ( 7 , 31 ). In addition, the improved digestibility of CP could be attributed to LPL modifying the lipid bilayer of the membrane and increasing the number and size of the membranous pores, thereby altering the fluidity of the membrane and the transmembrane permeabilities of the nutrients ( 32 , 33 ).…”

“…To the present knowledge, the effects of LPL as a feed additive on growth performance in ruminants have only been examined in 2 studies. Reis et al ( 7 ) conducted a recent experiment and found that supplementation with LPL improved growth performance and feed efficiency without affecting the DMI of dairy cows. However, Song et al ( 26 ) suggested that supplementation with LPL (0.3 or 0.5% w/w) did not affect the growth performance of Hanwoo heifers.…”

“…As suggested by Souza et al ( 6 ), the digestibility of fatty acids will be decreased with the increase of fatty acid flow to the intestine and the insufficient secretion of intestinal bile salts and pancreatic lipase. In previous studies, it has been found that emulsifiers can compensate for the insufficient of bile secretion and promote the incorporation of fatty acids into micelles, so as to improve fat digestibility ( 7 ).…”

Microbial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of dairy calves – a review of its importance and relationship to health and performance

“…Other studies using compounds containing different microorganisms and enzyme blends, (Renaud et al ., 2019), red propolis (Slanzon et al ., 2019), and lysolecithin (Reis et al ., 2021) have shown potential effect in reducing diarrhea incidence in dairy calves. However, the effect on microbiota has not been reported.…”

“…(2018) adding sodium-butyrate to whole milk, observed higher SCFA concentration in the colon, as well as a higher abundance of Phascolarctobacterium , considered a probiotic bacteria. Other studies, even if not evaluating the microbiome, have high expectations in modulating the gut microbiota (Slanzon et al ., 2019; Reis et al ., 2021).…”