Effects of chromium methionine and cinnamon supplements on performance and blood values in heat stressed Holstein calves

摘要

Ali Fatahi H, Amiri Andi M, Ahmadi F., Effects of methionine and cinnamon supplement on performance and blood values in heat stressed Holstein calves, Onl J Vet Res., 19(9): 613-622, 2015. Groups of 10 Holstein <4 day old female calves each, were supplemented with a milk replacer for 8 weeks during summer with chromium-L-methionine (Cr-Met) 1 mg kg, 40 mg Ci-EO/kg or 40 mg cinnamon essential oil (Ci-EO) with 1mg/kg. Controls were given milk replacer without supplement. Gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR)was measured twice weekly and dry matter intake (DMI) daily. Calves supplemented with Cr-Met and Ci-EO alone or combined, showed higher gain, DMI and FCR values compared with controls. Serum cortisol, glucose and total lipid values decreased whereas insulin and total protein values increased. Calves supplemented with Cr-Met showed higher plasma concentration of chromium compared with controls but albumin values remained unchanged. The findings suggest that supplementation with Cr-Met and Ci-EO may affect performance and metabolic status values in female calves reared under heat stress.