The aim of this study has been to determine the effect of a diet containing β-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids on the biochemical and nonspecific humoral immunity indicators and on the results of rearing calves to day 60 of life. The study was conducted in 2011-2012, on a herd of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. 54 calves from the herd were divided into 3 groups, 18 animals in each: CTR, TRT1 and TRT2. During the colostral period lasting for 5 days after birth, calves were drinking the mother’s colostrum. From 6 to 60 days, calves were watered milk replacer formulation. The control group (CTR) consisted of  calves after the colostral period given milk replacer formulation without any supplementation. In the two other groups,  calves received  milk replacers with the supplementation of b-carotene (TRT1 group) in the amount of 25 mg/calf/day or a suspension of liver omega-3 oil (TRT2 group) in the amount of 5g/calf/day.  All calves received solid feed ad libitum. The research showed that the parameters of the metabolic profile of calves (ALT, ASP, CHOL, GLU, UREA, ALP, TG, CRE) were within the normal range, indicating good health of the calves. Moreover, the supplementation had a positive impact on the chosen immunological parameters, including a higher IgG concentration, especially at the end of the milk drinking period. The result of B-carotene in a diet was the highest daily gain in the period from 30 to 60 days of life among the analysed groups of calves. No such  effect was achieved in the TRT2 group of calves, as their body weight was the lowest. However, noteworthy is the beneficial impact of beta-carotene and omega-3 oil on the non-specific humoral immunity parameters, which was manifested by fewer cases of clinical diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract diseases.

21.1.2016