Effect of supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or β-glucans on performance, feeding behaviour and immune status of Holstein Friesian bull calves during the pre- and post-weaning periods

Table 5 Effect of FO and GL supplementation on animal performance, rectal temperature and fecal scores

	Fish Oil (FO)			β-Glucans (GL)			Period (P) relative to weaning				P-value^f
	–	+	SED	–	+	SED	Pre	Post	Post-turnout	SEM	FO	GL	P	FO×GL	FO×P	GL×P
Start weight, kg	48.7	48.1	0.43	48.5	48.3	0.42					ns	ns		ns	ns	ns
Weaning weight, kg^a	66.1	60.0	0.39	65.2	60.9	0.39					<.0001	<.0001		ns	ns	ns
Turnout weight, kg^b	108.4	95.8	0.95	110.0	94.1	0.95					<.0001	<.0001		ns	ns	ns
End weight, kg^c	162.4	152.6	1.48	162.4	152.6	1.45					<.0001	<.0001		0.04	ns	ns
ADG, kg/d^d	0.78	0.71	0.042	0.81	0.68	0.042	0.31	1.14	0.78	0.022	0.060	0.001	<.0001	ns	<.0001	<.0001
Fecal score^e	2.15	2.15	0.080	2.1	2.2	0.08	2.06	2.24		0.056	0.984	0.098	0.002	ns	ns	ns
Rectal temperature, °C	38.86	38.63	0.057	38.69	38.81	0.057	38.69	38.81		0.046	< 0.0001	0.035	0.011	ns	ns	ns

^aWeaning weight = weight at end of milk feeding period
^bTurnout weight = weight at end of concentrate feeding and before turn out to grass
^cEnd weight = weight after 3 months at grass
^dADG = Average daily gain over a 172-day period starting on d 0 of the experiment
^eFecal score ranged from 1 to 4; 1 = firm, 2 = semi-solid, 3 = liquid, 4 = very liquid
^fInteractions are described in the text when significant
ns not significant

ISSN: 2049-1891