Health and Performance of Holstein Bull Calves fed Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Extract
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Date
2015-12
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether feeding Amaferm, a fermentation extract of Aspergillus oryzae, improved the health and performance of Holstein bull calves from birth to weaning. Calves were randomly assigned to a slaughter age (4 wk (n = 16) or 8 wk (n = 36)) and treatment (control (CON; n = 27) or Amaferm (AMF; n = 25)). AMF calves were fed 2 g of AMF daily, delivered in milk replacer for the first 4 wk of life and top-dressed on starter thereafter. Calves were fed milk replacer twice daily and were weaned upon consuming 0.91 kg of grain daily or on d 45 of the study. Calves had ad libitum access to grain and water. Milk replacer and starter intakes were recorded daily. Body weight was recorded weekly. Fecal scores were assigned twice daily. Upon slaughter, jejunal lymph nodes were collected for flow cytometric analysis of CD4 and CD8 cell populations. Body weights and medical costs were consistent between treatments. Calves fed AMF had greater frequency of scours than calves not fed AMF. CD4 cells composed a higher percentage of observed cells in AMF calves, while there was no difference in CD8 cell percentages between treatments. In conclusion, calves fed AMF scoured more frequently, but a lesser percentage of AMF calves were treated for respiratory ailments leading to no effect on treatment costs. Interestingly, CD4 cell population was greater in AMF calves, which warrants further research.
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Keywords
dairy calf, direct fed microbial, T cells