Sfulcini Marta, Lopreiato Vincenzo, Piccioli-Cappelli Fiorenzo, Patrone Vania, Bisaschi Marta, Yoon Ilkyu, Zontini Alessandro Maria, Barbato Mario, Cattaneo Luca, Archetti Ivonne, Trevisi Erminio, Minuti Andrea
Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Università di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Sep 18;15(18):2728. doi: 10.3390/ani15182728.
This study evaluated the effects of supplementing dairy calves with fermentation-derived postbiotics (SCFP) on growth, metabolism, immune status, and first lactation performance. Eighteen Holstein heifer calves were blocked by birth body weight and serum total protein and randomly assigned to control (CTR; = 9; no supplementation) or SCFP ( = 9; 1 g/d SmartCare in milk replacer until weaning plus 5 g/d NutriTek until 70 d; Diamond V™, USA). Calves were weaned at 60 d and monitored until 160 d. Feed intake did not differ between groups. SCFP calves had greater post-weaning average daily gain from 71 to 100 d (0.93 vs. 0.60 kg/d, SCFP and CTR, respectively) and body weight from 100 to 160 d. They tended to have greater plasma β-hydroxybutyrate at 60 (0.32 vs. 0.27 mmol/L, SCFP and CTR, respectively) and 70 d (0.46 vs. 0.42, SCFP and CTR, respectively) and urea at 70 d (4.89 vs. 4.33 mmol/L, SCFP and CTR, respectively) and had greater acetate (515 vs. 384 μmol/L, SCFP and CTR, respectively) and propionate (33.13 vs. 22.4 ± 4.86 μmol/L, SCFP and CTR, respectively) at 60 d. SCFP calves also had lower nonesterified fatty acids at 21 d (0.23 vs. 0.38 mmol/L, SCFP and CTR, respectively), suggesting reduced energy mobilization during the most critical pre-weaning stage. Plasma myeloperoxidase was greater at 70 d (340 vs. 262 U/L, SCFP and CTR, respectively), as was phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear neutrophils at 60 (+10.4%) and 70 d (+8.2%). Feeding SCFP increased rumen activity and plasma volatile fatty acid concentrations, likely due to enhanced nutrient absorption and reduced weaning stress. SCFP calves exhibited a better immune response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation, as indicated by leukocyte gene expression, MPO, and PMN phagocytosis. Metagenomic analyses showed minor but significant changes in early-life microbiota composition at 7, 21, and 42 d. During first lactation, SCFP cows produced 2.1 kg/d more milk in the first 100 days in milk compared with CTR. In conclusion, early supplementation with SCFP supported rumen development, improved metabolic and immune function, and may enhance future productivity in dairy cows.
本研究评估了给犊牛补充发酵来源的后生元（SCFP）对其生长、代谢、免疫状态和首次泌乳性能的影响。18头荷斯坦小母牛犊牛按出生体重和血清总蛋白进行分组，并随机分为对照组（CTR；n = 9；不补充）或SCFP组（n = 9；在代乳粉中添加1 g/d的SmartCare直至断奶，再加5 g/d的NutriTek直至70日龄；美国Diamond V™公司）。犊牛在60日龄断奶，并监测至160日龄。两组犊牛的采食量没有差异。SCFP组犊牛在71至100日龄的断奶后平均日增重更高（分别为0.93和0.60 kg/d，SCFP组和CTR组），在100至160日龄时体重也更高。它们在60日龄（分别为0.32和0.27 mmol/L，SCFP组和CTR组）和70日龄时血浆β-羟基丁酸水平倾向于更高（分别为0.46和0.42，SCFP组和CTR组），在70日龄时尿素水平也更高（分别为4.89和4.33 mmol/L，SCFP组和CTR组），在60日龄时乙酸盐（分别为515和384 μmol/L，SCFP组和CTR组）和丙酸盐水平更高（分别为33.13和22.4±4.86 μmol/L，SCFP组和CTR组）。SCFP组犊牛在21日龄时非酯化脂肪酸水平也更低（分别为0.23和0.38 mmol/L，SCFP组和CTR组），这表明在最关键的断奶前阶段能量动员减少。70日龄时血浆髓过氧化物酶水平更高（分别为340和262 U/L，SCFP组和CTR组），60日龄（+10.4%）和70日龄（+8.2%）时多形核中性粒细胞的吞噬作用也更强。饲喂SCFP可提高瘤胃活性和血浆挥发性脂肪酸浓度，这可能是由于营养吸收增强和断奶应激减轻。如白细胞基因表达、MPO和PMN吞噬作用所示，SCFP组犊牛对脂多糖刺激表现出更好的免疫反应。宏基因组分析显示，在7日龄、21日龄和42日龄时，早期微生物群组成有微小但显著的变化。在首次泌乳期间，与CTR组相比，SCFP组奶牛在产奶的前100天内每天多产奶2.1 kg。总之，早期补充SCFP可促进瘤胃发育，改善代谢和免疫功能，并可能提高奶牛未来的生产性能。
