ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2015, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (12): 2218-2226.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2015.12.013

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Effects of 2-methylbutyrate Supplementation on Rumen Fermentation,Enzyme Activities and Cellulolytic Bacteria in Pre- and Post-weaning Dairy Calves

LI He-qiong1,LIU Qiang1* ,WANG Cong1,ZHANG Yan-li1,PEI Cai-xia1,WANG Yong-xin1,GUO Gang1,HUO Wen-jie1,ZHANG Shuan-lin1,LIU Jian-xin2   

  1. (1.College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China;2.College of Animal Science,Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310058,China)
  • Received:2015-02-25 Online:2015-12-23 Published:2015-12-23

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2-methylbutyrate supplementation on development of rumen by determining rumen fermentation,enzyme activities and cellulolytic bacteria in pre- and post-weaning dairy calves.Thirty-two Holstein male calves with 15-day-old and body weight(46.45±0.37) kg were selected and allocated randomly to 4 groups.Calves in control were fed on milk during pre-weaning and on calf-concentrate and alfalfa hay during post-weaning.Calves in treatments were supplemented 2-methylbutyrate at levels of 3,6 and 9 g•d-1,respectively.All calves were weaned at 45-day-old.At 30- and 90-day-old,4 calves in each group were selected at random and slaughtered at morning before feeding,and samples of ruminal liquid and rumen mucosa were collected and determined.The results showed that total VFA concentrations,ratio of acetate to propionate,activities of filter paper enzymes,carboxymethyl cellulose,cellobiose enzymes,xylanase,α-amylase,β-amylase and protease,populations of R.albusR.flavefaciensB.fibrisolvens and F.succinogenes in calves at 90-day-old were increased compared with calves at 30-day-old(P<0.05),while ruminal pH and ammonia N concentration were decreased(P<0.05).When calves were supplemented 2-methylbutyrate at 6 and 9 g•d-1,ruminal pH were decreased compared with control,ammonia N concentration were decreased compared with control and calves supplemented 2-methylbutyrate at 3 g•d-1(P<0.05).When calves were supplemented 2-methylbutyrate at 9 g•d-1,ratio of acetate to propionate was enhanced,activities of filter paper enzymes,carboxymethyl cellulose,cellobiose enzymes,xylanase,α-amylase and β-amylase were increased,populations of R.albusR.flavefaciensB.fibrisolvens and F.succinogenes were improved compared with control and calves supplemented 2-methylbutyrate at 3 g•d-1,but activities of protease were not affected.The results indicated that the growth of cellulolytic bacteria and amylolytic bacteria were stimulated by supplemental 2-methylbutyrate,and then activities of cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes were enhanced,which improved the rumen fermentation.The optimum daily dose of 2-methylbutyrate was at 6 g•d-1.

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