The effect of giving sodium butyrate to Holstein calves on growth, rumen and blood parameters

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Oztas E., TÜRKMEN İ.

JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY, vol.76, no.4, pp.9909-9918, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium butyrate supplementation on the growth performance, health, rumen, and blood parameters of Holstein calves during the suckling period. Forty-five calves were divided into three groups: one control group and two experimental groups (Experimental Group I and II), each consisting of 15 calves matched by birth weight and sex. All groups were provided with 500 grams of milk replacer feed per calf per day and with ad libitum access to calf starter feed containing 10% chopped alfalfa hay throughout the experiment. In the Experimental Group I, coated sodium butyrate was added at a concentration of 0.3% to the calf starter feed. In Experimental Group II, 0.3% uncoated sodium butyrate was added to the milk replacer feed and 0.3% coated sodium butyrate was added to the calf starter feed. The experiment lasted for 60 days. The calves were weighed on the 15(th), 30(th), 45(th), and 60(th) days of the experiment to assess live weight gain. Sodium butyrate supplementation did not result in significant differences in dry matter intake, daily weight gain, or feed conversion ratio (P > 0.05). However, while no differences were found on the other days, a significant difference was observed in the glucose levels of the blood plasma obtained from the samples collected on the 45(th) day (P = 0.018). No significant differences were observed in the beta-hydroxybutyric acid, blood urea nitrogen, IGF-1, or total serum protein levels of the calves. Rumen fluid samples were collected on the 30(th) and 45(th) days of the experiment and were analyzed for rumen pH and volatile fatty acids. The analyses showed no significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that sodium butyrate supplementation in different doses and forms did not significantly affect the health or growth parameters of Holstein calves during the suckling period.