Improving hindgut health
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Rumen protected calcium gluconate increases average daily gain of beef cattle by 95 grams per day

Key take-away message

  • Feeding Selko LactiBute reduces faecal starch levels in beef cattle and increases faecal pH
  • Faecal consistency and hindgut health of beef cattle fed Selko LactiBute improved
  • ADG of beef cattle fed Selko LactiBute increaesed by 95 grams/day

Feeding Selko LactiBute to beef cattle reduces faecal starch and increases faecal pH of beef

Selko LactiBute contains rumen protected calcium gluconate, a prebiotic that improves hindgut health of ruminants. Trials carried out in dairy cattle have shown that improved hindgut health results in an increase in milk production1,2,3,4. A trial with Selko LactiBute in steers showed that feeding Selko LactiBute increased the amount of volatile fatty acids in the caecum and colon.

In Spain, 95% of diets for receiving beef cattle are based on compound feed combined with 10-20% straw. This compound feed has high levels (40-55%) of cereals, mainly corn. With these high levels of starch and low effective fiber intake, the risk of problems with hindgut health of beef cattle is high. Purpose of the current trial was to test the impact of Selko LactiBute on faecal starch levels, faecal pH and average daily gain (ADG) in beef cattle.

Material and methods

The trial was carried out on a commercial beef farm in Spain. A total of 120 beef cattle, housed in 6 pens of 20 animals each were included in the trial. Half of the animals (1 pen with females, 2 pens with males) were fed Selko LactiBute, the other half of the animals (also 1 pen with females, 2 pens with males) served as untreated controls. The fattening period of the beef cattle included in the trial lasted 111 days in total. During this fattening period, Selko LactiBute was fed to beef cattle in the test group for 43 days.

Levels of starch in the faeces and pH of the faeces of beef cattle were measured in each of the pens and all animals were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the trial.

Figure 1: Faecal pH of beef cattle fed Selko LactiBute compared to beef cattle fed the same diet without Selko LactiBute included.

Results, faecal pH of beef cattle

Faecal pH of the beef cattle included in the trial in the different pens is presented in Figure 1.

Average faecal pH for the controls was 5.8, in the beef cattle fed Selko LactiBute, faecal pH was increased to 6.2.

Figure 2: Starch levels in the faeces of beef cattle fed Selko LactiBute compared to control animals fed the same diet without Selko LactiBute

Materials and methods, faecal starch levels of beef cattle

Faecal starch levels of beef cattle at the different time points are presented in Figure 2.

Average faecal starch level of the beef cattle during the entire trial period was 19.7% for the controls and 15.6% for the beef cattle fed with Selko LactiBute for beef.

Figure 3: Average Daily Gain of female beef cattle fed the same diet with or without Selko LactiBute.
Figure 4: Average Daily Gain of male beef cattle fed the same diet with or without Selko LactiBute.

Results, average daily gain of beef cattle

Average daily gain of beef cattle included in the trial with Selko LactiBute was calculated for the males and females separately (see Figures 3 and 4).

Average daily gain in female beef cattle increased by 8% or 94 grams/animal/day, Average Daily Gain in male beef cattle increased by 7% or 95 grams/animal/day.

Conclusion

Feeding Selko LactiBute to receiving beef cattle in combination with a diet with high levels of starch decreased starch levels in faeces and resulted in an increase in faecal pH. This resulted in an improvement in consistency of faeces of beef cows. All these changes are indicative of an improvement of hindgut health of beef cattle. This improvement in hindgut health resulted in an increased ADG of 7-8%.

References on Selko LactiBute for cattle

  1. Watanabe, D.H.M, Doelman, J, Steele, M.A, Guan, L. and G. B. Penner (2020). Evaluating the effect of Ca-gluconate and Ca-butyrate on SCFA absorption and permeability of the gastrointestinal tract. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 97, Suppl. S3.

  2. McKnight, L.L, Doelman, J, Carson, M, Waterman, D.F. and J. A. Metcalf (2018). Feeding and post-ruminal infusion of calcium gluconate to lactating dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci.

  3. Doelman, J, McKnight, L.L, Carson, M, Nichols, K, Waterman, D.F. and J. A. Metcalf (2019). Post-ruminal infusion of calcium gluconate increases milk fat production and alters fecal volatile fatty acid profile in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 102:1274–1280.

  4. Seymour, D. J, Sanz-Fernandez, M.V, Daniel, J.B, Martín-Tereso, J. and J. Doelman (2020). Effects of supplemental calcium gluconate embedded in a hydrogenated fat matrix on lactation, digestive, and metabolic variables in dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 104:7845–7855.

  5. Bergman, J.G.H.E., Skibba, B., and M. Hall (2023). Rumen protected calcium gluconate improves milk production of cows, 73th EAAP Congress, Lyon, August 28-September 1, Abstract submitted.

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