Q. Liu, C. Wang, Y. Zhang
Jun 1, 2016
Citations
1
Influential Citations
14
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Animal Feed Science and Technology
Abstract
Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2-methylbutyrate supplementation on growth performance and rumen development in pre- and post-weaned dairy calves. Fifty-six Chinese Holstein male calves with 15 days of age and 46.5 ± 0.37 kg of body weight (BW) were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The treatments were: control, low-2-methylbutyrate (LMB), moderate-2-methylbutyrate (MMB) and high-2-methylbutyrate (HMB) with 0, 3, 6 and 9 g 2-methylbutyrate per calf per day, respectively. Supplemental 2-methylbutyrate was hand- mixed into milk in pre-weaned calves and the concentrate portion of post-weaned calves. The study lasted 75 days, including a 15-day adaptation period and followed by a 60-day sampling period. Calves were weaned at 60 days of age. Six calves were chosen from each treatment at random and slaughtered at 30 and 90 days of age. Body weight, dry matter (DM) intake and stomach weight were measured, samples of ruminal tissues and blood were determined. DM intake increased linearly (P