Effect of supplementing probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic on blood antioxidant activity and mineral profile of weaned gir calves

Introduction

Man and cow have an essential relationship in India. An important part of Indian culture and economy is the cow. The significance of cows for us is demonstrated by expressions like "Laxmi of home" and "Cow is foster mother of human race." The raising of indigenous cattle uplifts the traditional livelihood by providing employment, supplementary income, wealth, religion, enjoyment and salvation are accomplished with the service of the cow. According to the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Gir cow whose population was 23,00,090 is the top indigenous cow in the country (Anonymous, 2022) [2] . The Gir breed of dairy cattle is highly regarded by milk purpose breed due to its exceptional ability to produce milk, good fertility, heat tolerance, ease of maintenance, resistance to diseases and long lifespan. Gir, a pure dairy breed of zebu cattle, gets its name from the Gir forest and hills in the southern part of Gujarat's Saurashtra region, namely from the districts of Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot and Jamnagar. Dairy calves are widely recognized as the future of the herd. Thus, management approaches have an impact on calf performance. Inadequate nutrition prior to weaning can lead to low weaning weight and weakened immunity, which exacerbates morbidity-related losses. Since long time among the various feed additives, antibiotic is the most frequently and extensively used in livestock diets due to its therapeutic importance (Cho et al., 2005) [3] . Antibiotics help in checking diarrhoea and enhance body weight gain by modifying gut microflora in growing calves (Novak and Katz, 2006) [5] . But the growing concern of the consumers for clean and safe products have restricted the use of antibiotic as feed additive as growth promoters. The worldwide criticism over the use of antibiotics as growth promoters due to their antibiotic resistance, probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic came up as an alternative to antibiotics.

Materials and Methods

The present experiment was conducted at Cattle Breeding Farm, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, Gujarat (India), after obtaining permission from institutional animal ethics committee (KU-JVC-IAEC-LA-105-23). A total of twenty four weaned Gir calves of similar body weight and age (4-6 months) were selected and randomly blocked in four treatment groups with six animals each viz., Control (T1), Probiotic group (T2), Prebiotic group (T3) and Synbiotic group (T4). The selected weaned Gir calves were assured for the health and disease. Probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic were purchased from Gujarat Enzyme, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Duration of experiment was 180 days. Information on treatment details during the study period are provided in Table 1. The data were analyzed for descriptive statistics (mean and standard error). Treatment and period effects on different parameters were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) according to Snedecor and Cochran (1994). Pairwise mean differences between groups were compared by DMRT test, and the mean differences were considered significant at p<0.05. Total Antioxidant Activity (ng/ml) Mean values of serum total antioxidant activity (ng/ml) in different groups are presented in table 2. Mean serum total antioxidant activity in T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups at start of experiment was 0.78±0.02, 0.81±0.02, 0.96±0.14 and 0.83±0.03, ng/ml, respectively, Overall mean serum total antioxidant activity for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups recorded was 0.77±0.04, 0.75±0.01, 0.99±0.14 and 0.84±0.05, ng/ml, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed statistically nonsignificant (P>0.05) difference in mean value of serum total antioxidant activity (ng/dl) among the groups at 0 days as well as and at end of (180 th ) of experiment. Overall mean value of serum total antioxidant activity (ng/dl) was also statistically non-significant among the treatment groups. Wang et al. (2021) [8] reported that there was nonsignificant (P˃0.05) effect on serum total antioxidant capacity (U/ml) when supplemented with compound probiotic in Holstein calves.

Results and Discussion

Mean serum catalase activity levels (ng/ml) for different groups are given in table 2. Initially, mean serum catalase activity for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups was 0.67±0.10, 0.61±0.04, 0.58±0.04 and 0.62±0.04, ng/ml, respectively. whereas the mean serum total antioxidant activity at 180 days of dietary treatments in four different groups averaged 0.56±0.02, ng/ml and 0.47±0.05, 0.51±0.04, 0.73±0.04 and 0.57±0.02 respectively. Overall mean serum catalase activity for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups recorded was 0.59±0.04, 0.56±0.03, 0.68±0.05 and 0.61±0.03, ng/ml, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed statistically non-significant (P>0.05) difference in mean value of serum catalase activity (ng/dl) among the groups at 0 day, however at end of the experiment (180 th ), serum catalase activity (ng/dl) was significantly (p˂0.05 higher in prebiotic supplemented group as compared to other groups. Sharma et al. (2023) [6] reported that serum catalase activity (µmol of H 2 O 2 ) of Murrah buffalo calves was significantly (P>0.05) higher in synbiotic supplemented group than control group. [1] observed that probiotic supplemented group had not statistically (P˃0.05) difference on serum calcium concentration (mg/dl) in Holstein calves. Dimova et al. (2013) [4] found no significant (P˃0.05) difference on serum calcium concentration (mg/dl) between probiotic and control group. [4] reported that the supplementation of probiotic had nonsignificantly (P˃0.05) effect on serum phosphorus concentration (mg/dl) in Bulgarian brown and black and white breeds female calves.

Mineral Profile

Serum

Mean values of serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) in different groups are presented in table 3. Mean serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) in T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups at start of experiment was 2.13±0.12, 1.90±0.12, 1.93±0.08 and 1.99±0.09, mg/dl, respectively, whereas the mean serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) at the end of 180 days of dietary treatments in four different groups averaged 2.00±0.09, 1.98±0.17, 2.02±0.11 and 2.00±0.06, mg/dl, respectively. Overall mean serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) for T1, T2, T3 and T4 groups recorded was 1.88±0.08, 1.92±0.10, 2.00±0.13 and 1.93±0.05, mg/dl, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed statistically nonsignificant (P>0.05) difference in mean value of serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) among the groups at 0 days as well as last day (180 th ) of experiment. Overall mean value of serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) was also statistically non-significant (P˃0.05) among the treatment groups and serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) varied within the normal physiological range of the calves. Al-Saiady. M.Y. (2010) [1] reported non-significant (P˃0.05) effect on serum magnesium concentration (mg/dl) when supplemented with probiotic in Kankrej calves.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors are highly thankful to Principal of College of veterinary Science & A.H., Junagadh, Research Scientist of Cattle Breeding Farm and Higher authorities of KU, Gandhinagar for providing the necessary facilities to carry out this study.

References

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