Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T08:24:36.224Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Essential oils for dairy calves: effects on performance, scours, rumen fermentation and intestinal fauna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2015

F. H. R. Santos
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo – USP/ESALQ, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
M. R. De Paula
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo – USP/ESALQ, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
D. Lezier
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo – USP/ESALQ, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
J. T. Silva
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo – USP/ESALQ, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
G. Santos
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo – USP/ESALQ, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
C. M. M. Bittar*
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, University of São Paulo – USP/ESALQ, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11-13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
*
Get access

Abstract

The first cause of death of dairy calves is often diarrhea which is mainly caused by pathogenic bacteria, which can result in excessive use of antibiotics. However, facing the increase concern by the industry and consumers, the use of antibiotics not only to control pathogens, but also to manipulate growth, has become a challenge. Alternative additives, such essential oils, have the potential to decrease antibiotic use, without reducing performance or increasing mortality of dairy calves. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a commercial blend of essential oils, incorporated into the calf starter and/or milk replacer to monitor the effect on overall calf performance, fecal scores and rumen fermentation parameters. A total of 30 Holstein calves received 6 l/day of a liquid diet, consisting of a commercial milk replacer containing 20% CP : 15% fat (EE). Calves had free choice access to water and calf starter. Weaning occurred at week 8, and calves were followed until the 10th week of age. Calves were assigned to one of the three treatment groups in a randomized block design. Treatments: (1) control without essential oils supplementation (C); (2) essential oils blend in the milk replacer at 400 mg/kg (MR) and (3) essential oils blend in the milk replacer (200 mg/kg) and starter feed (200 mg/kg) (MRS). From the 2nd week, calves were weighed and body measurements were taken, while concentrate intake and fecal scores were monitored daily. Blood samples were drawn weekly for determination of glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate. Fecal samples were collected weekly and analyzed for lactic acid bacteria and Enterobacteria; and ruminal fluid for determination of pH, short chain fatty acids, ammonia-N and counts of amylolytic and cellulolytic bacteria, and protozoa. Performance, fecal scores and intestines microorganisms were not affected by the essential oils supplementation. Ruminal and blood parameters were also not affected, with the exception the rumen ammonia-N concentration, with higher values when essential oils were supplemented in a combination of milk replacer and starter feed. Most of the evaluated parameters were affected by age of calves, mainly as a response to the increase in concentrate intake as animals’ aged. Essential oils are promising substitutes for antibiotics. However, the dose and routes of administration deserve further studies, allowing a better animal performance and health to be achieved.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, KL, Nagaraja, TG, Morrill, JL, Avery, TB, Galitzer, SJ and Boyer, JE 1987. Ruminal microbial development inconventionally or early-eaned calves. Journal of Animal Science 64, 12151226.Google Scholar
Association of Official Analytical Chemists 2000. Official methods of analysis, 17th edition. AOAC, Arlington, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Bampidis, VA, Christodoulou, V, Florou-Paneri, P and Christaki, E 2006. Effect of dried oregano leaves versus neomycin in treating newborn calves with colibacillosis. Journal of Veterinary Medicine 53, 154156.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beharka, AA, Nagaraja, TG, Morrill, JL, Kennedy, GA and Klemm, RD 1998. Effects of form of the diet on anatomical, microbial, and fermentative development of the rumen of neonatal calves. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 19461955.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Benchaar, C, Petit, HV, Berthiaume, RT, Whyte, D and Chouinard, PY 2006. Effects of dietary addition of essential oils and monensin premix on digestion, ruminal fermentation characteristics, milk production, and milk composition in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 43524364.Google Scholar
Benchaar, C, Petit, HV, Berthiaume, R, Ouellet, DR, Chiquette, J and Chouinard, PY 2007. Effects of essential oils on digestion, ruminal fermentation, rumen microbial populations, milk production, and milk composition in dairy cows fed alfalfa silage or corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 886897.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Busquet, M, Calsamiglia, S, Ferret, A and Kamel, C 2006. Screening for effects of plant extracts and secondary plant metabolites on rumen microbial fermentation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 123/124, 597613.Google Scholar
Calsamiglia, S, Busquet, M, Cardozo, PW, Castillejos, L, Ferret, A 2007. Invited review: essential oils as modifiers of rumen microbial fermentation. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 25802595.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castillejos, L, Calsamiglia, S, Ferret, A, Losa, R 2007. Effects of dose and adaptation time of a specific blend of essential oil compounds on rumen fermentation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 132, 186201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chaney, AL and Marbach, EP 1962. Modified reagents for determination of urea and ammonia. Clinical Chemistry 8, 130132.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chester-Jones, H, Steiner, T, Watkins, M, Taylor, D, Ziegler, D, Raeth-Knight, M and Golombeski, G 2010. Pre- and post-weaning performance and health of calves fed milk replacers and calf starters with or without essential oils. Journal of Animal Science 88, 421.Google Scholar
Davis, CL and Drackley, JK 1998. The development nutrition and management of the young calf, 1st edition. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA, USA.Google Scholar
Dehority, BA 1977. Classification and morphology of rumen protozoa, 1st edition. University of Ohio, Columbus, OH, USA.Google Scholar
Durmic, Z and Blache, D 2012. Bioactive plants and plant products: effects on animal function, health and welfare. Animal Feed Science and Technology 176, 150162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferreira, LS and Bittar, CMM 2011. Performance and plasma metabolites of dairy calves fed starter containing sodium butyrate, calcium propionate or sodium monensina. Animal Journal 5, 239245.Google Scholar
Giannenas, I, Skoufos, J, Giannakopoulos, C, Wiemann, M, Gortzi, O, Lalas, S and Kyriazakis, I 2011. Effects of essential oils on milk production, milk composition, and rumen microbiota in Chios dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 55695577.Google Scholar
Goshe, TK 1987. Measurement of cellulase activities. Pure and Applied Chemistry 59, 257268.Google Scholar
Hall, MB, Jennings, JP, Lewis, BA and Robertson, JB 2000. Evaluation of starch analysis methods for feed samples. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 81, 1721.Google Scholar
Hill, TM, Aldrich, JM, Schlotterbeck, RL and Bateman, HG 2007. Apex plant botanicals for neonatal calf milk replacers and starters. The Professional Animal Scientist 23, 521526.Google Scholar
Kawakami, SI, Yamada, T, Nakanishi, N and Cai, Y 2011. Feeding of lactic acid bacteria and yeast affects fecal flora of Holstein calves. Journal Animal and Veterinary Advances 10, 269271.Google Scholar
Larson, LL, Owen, FG, Albright, JL, Appleman, RD, Lamb, RC and Muller, LD 1977. Guidelines toward more uniformity in measuring and reporting calf experimental data. Journal of Dairy Science 60, 989991.Google Scholar
Licitra, G, Hernandez, TM and Van Soest, PJ 1996. Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds. Animal Feed Science and Technology 57, 347358.Google Scholar
Macheboeuf, D, Morgavi, DP, Papon, Y, Mousset, JL and Arturo-Schaan, M 2008. Dose-response effects of essential oils on in vitro fermentation activity of the rumen microbial population. Animal Feed Science and Technology 145, 335350.Google Scholar
Manzanilla, EG, Perez, JF, Martin, M, Kamel, C, Baucells, F and Gasa, J 2004. Effect of plant extracts and formic acid on the intestinal equilibrium of early-weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 82, 32103218.Google Scholar
National Research Council 2001. Nutrient requirement of dairy cattle, 7th revised edition. NRC and National Academy of Science, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Official Journal of the European Union 2003. Regulation (EC) No1831/203 of the European Parliament and Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition. OJEU. Retrieved 31 November 2014, from http://eurex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L2003:268:0029:0043:EN:pdf.Google Scholar
Palmiquist, D and Conrad, H 1971. Origin of plasma fatty acid in lactating dairy cows fed high fat diets. Journal of Dairy Science 54, 10251033.Google Scholar
Quigley, JD and Bernard, JK 1992. Effects of nutrient source and time of feeding on changes in blood metabolites in young calves. Journal of Animal Science 70, 15431549.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quigley, JD, Caldwell, LA and Sinks, GD 1991. Changes in plasma volatile fatty acids in response to weaning and feed intake in young calves. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 258263.Google Scholar
Russel, JB 2002. Rumen microbiology and its role in ruminant nutrition, 1st edition. Blackwell Publisinhg Ltd, Oxford, UK.Google Scholar
Shingu, H, Hayashi, H, Touno, E, Oshibe, A, Kushibiki, S, Oda, S, Katoh, K and Obara, Y 2007. Characteristics of developmental changes in the kinetics of glucose and urea in Japanese Black calves: comparison with Holstein calves. Journal of Animal Science 85, 29102915.Google Scholar
Van Soest, PJ, Robertson, JB and Lewis, BA 1991. Methods for dietary fiber neutral detergent fiber, and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 35833597.Google Scholar
Weiss, WP 1993. Predicting energy values of feeds. In symposium: prevailing concepts in energy utilization by ruminants. Journal of Dairy Science 76, 18021811.Google Scholar