Volume 16, Issue 4 (12-2025)
Res Anim Prod 2025, 16(4): 176-186 |
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Hosein Khani A, Vahedi V, Boustan A, Ansari M. (2025). Dietary Inclusion of Nigella sativa in Holstein Dairy Calves: Assessments of Growth Performance and Health Status. Res Anim Prod. 16(4), 176-186. doi:10.61882/rap.2025.1497
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1497-en.html
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1497-en.html
1- Department of Animal Science, Moghan College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2- Department of Animal and Poultry Physiology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
2- Department of Animal and Poultry Physiology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract: (1390 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: The preweaning period is a critical phase in the life of substitute females because dairy calves are sensitive to disease during this phase. Generally, the health status of dairy claves dramatically affects their growth, reproductive efficiency, and milk production in the future. Therefore, proper calve management is of great importance to reduce costs and to increase the profitability of dairy farms. The higher sensitivity to diarrhea is an important challenge during clave management, which increases antibiotic usage and retards growth. Using antibiotics in low dosages can reduce morbidity and increase the growth rate; however, their usage was banned due to drug resistance. Herbal medicines are safe compounds with little side effects that have been considered for the treatment of different diseases. With an optimal level of energy and protein, Nigella sativa is a decent candidate to add to the diet. In addition, this herb contains bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and improves the immune system, as well as digestion and absorption processes in the digestive tract. Previous studies have reported the positive effect of dietary inclusion of N. sativa in domestic animals. Thus, the current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of daily adding N. sativa powder (NSP) to milk on the growth performance and health status of Holstein dairy calves during the preweaning period.
Methods: A total of 32 male calves with an average body weight of 39.37 ± 1.92 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments, including a control (CON, without the supplement), NSP2 (2 g/d NSP), NSP4 (4 g/d NSP), and NSP6 (6 g/d NSP) for a 65-d period. Calves were kept in individual pens, and daily milk feeding and weaning were performed according to the routine program at the dairy farm. Data for daily feed intake (the difference between provided and residual feed) and fecal score (1 = normal; 2 = soft to loose; 3 = loose to watery; 4 = watery, mucous, slightly bloody; and 5 = watery, mucous, and bloody), general appearance score (1 = normal and alert; 2 = ears drooped; 3 = head and ears drooped, dull eyes, slightly lethargic; 4 = head and ears drooped, dull eyes, lethargic; and 5 = severely lethargic), and rectal temperature (inserting the thermometer into the rectum for approximately 1 min) were recorded daily until the end of the experiment. Body weight was measured every 10 days and at the end of the experiment. Feed efficiency was calculated using the following formula: average daily gain (g) divided by total dry matter intake (g). Data were imported and organized in Excel software. Growth performance data were analyzed using the repeated measurement model (PROC MIXED). Data from the chance of diarrhea (≥ 3), poor general appearance (≥ 2), and higher rectal temperature (≥ 39.4 °C) were analyzed using the logistic regression model (PROC GLIMMIX). The number of days with diarrhea, poor general appearance, and higher rectal temperature were analyzed with the Poisson regression model (PROC GENMOD) of SAS software (v. 9.4) in the current study.
Results: Despite a 177 g increase in the starter intake of calves in the NSP2 group compared to the control group, there were no significant differences in starter intake and total dry matter intake among treatments. However, weight gain (46.93 vs. 37.66 kg, P = 0.01), average daily weight gain (782.29 vs. 627.71 g, P < 0.01), and feed efficiency (0.55 vs. 0.48, P = 0.01) were significantly higher in NSP2 than in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the other treatments (CON vs. NSP4 vs. NSP) regarding the mentioned parameters. Daily starter and dry matter intake were not significantly different among the treatments (P > 0.05). N. sativa did not significantly affect the chance of higher rectal temperature and poor general appearance among the treatments. Nevertheless, the chance of diarrhea occurrence escalated as NSP levels increased in the experiment, and calves in the NSP4 and NSP6 groups showed a greater chance of diarrhea occurrence than those in the NSP2 and CON groups. The same trend was also observed concerning the number of days with higher rectal temperature, poor general appearance, and diarrhea occurrence among the treatments.
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, feeding N. sativa powder has a positive impact on the growth performance of dairy calves. However, this effect seems to be only observed at 2 g/d, and higher levels (4 and 6 g/d) of N. sativa show a laxative effect in dairy calves.
Background: The preweaning period is a critical phase in the life of substitute females because dairy calves are sensitive to disease during this phase. Generally, the health status of dairy claves dramatically affects their growth, reproductive efficiency, and milk production in the future. Therefore, proper calve management is of great importance to reduce costs and to increase the profitability of dairy farms. The higher sensitivity to diarrhea is an important challenge during clave management, which increases antibiotic usage and retards growth. Using antibiotics in low dosages can reduce morbidity and increase the growth rate; however, their usage was banned due to drug resistance. Herbal medicines are safe compounds with little side effects that have been considered for the treatment of different diseases. With an optimal level of energy and protein, Nigella sativa is a decent candidate to add to the diet. In addition, this herb contains bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and improves the immune system, as well as digestion and absorption processes in the digestive tract. Previous studies have reported the positive effect of dietary inclusion of N. sativa in domestic animals. Thus, the current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of daily adding N. sativa powder (NSP) to milk on the growth performance and health status of Holstein dairy calves during the preweaning period.
Methods: A total of 32 male calves with an average body weight of 39.37 ± 1.92 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments, including a control (CON, without the supplement), NSP2 (2 g/d NSP), NSP4 (4 g/d NSP), and NSP6 (6 g/d NSP) for a 65-d period. Calves were kept in individual pens, and daily milk feeding and weaning were performed according to the routine program at the dairy farm. Data for daily feed intake (the difference between provided and residual feed) and fecal score (1 = normal; 2 = soft to loose; 3 = loose to watery; 4 = watery, mucous, slightly bloody; and 5 = watery, mucous, and bloody), general appearance score (1 = normal and alert; 2 = ears drooped; 3 = head and ears drooped, dull eyes, slightly lethargic; 4 = head and ears drooped, dull eyes, lethargic; and 5 = severely lethargic), and rectal temperature (inserting the thermometer into the rectum for approximately 1 min) were recorded daily until the end of the experiment. Body weight was measured every 10 days and at the end of the experiment. Feed efficiency was calculated using the following formula: average daily gain (g) divided by total dry matter intake (g). Data were imported and organized in Excel software. Growth performance data were analyzed using the repeated measurement model (PROC MIXED). Data from the chance of diarrhea (≥ 3), poor general appearance (≥ 2), and higher rectal temperature (≥ 39.4 °C) were analyzed using the logistic regression model (PROC GLIMMIX). The number of days with diarrhea, poor general appearance, and higher rectal temperature were analyzed with the Poisson regression model (PROC GENMOD) of SAS software (v. 9.4) in the current study.
Results: Despite a 177 g increase in the starter intake of calves in the NSP2 group compared to the control group, there were no significant differences in starter intake and total dry matter intake among treatments. However, weight gain (46.93 vs. 37.66 kg, P = 0.01), average daily weight gain (782.29 vs. 627.71 g, P < 0.01), and feed efficiency (0.55 vs. 0.48, P = 0.01) were significantly higher in NSP2 than in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the other treatments (CON vs. NSP4 vs. NSP) regarding the mentioned parameters. Daily starter and dry matter intake were not significantly different among the treatments (P > 0.05). N. sativa did not significantly affect the chance of higher rectal temperature and poor general appearance among the treatments. Nevertheless, the chance of diarrhea occurrence escalated as NSP levels increased in the experiment, and calves in the NSP4 and NSP6 groups showed a greater chance of diarrhea occurrence than those in the NSP2 and CON groups. The same trend was also observed concerning the number of days with higher rectal temperature, poor general appearance, and diarrhea occurrence among the treatments.
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, feeding N. sativa powder has a positive impact on the growth performance of dairy calves. However, this effect seems to be only observed at 2 g/d, and higher levels (4 and 6 g/d) of N. sativa show a laxative effect in dairy calves.
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