Exogenous butyrate in calf nutrition

What is it about?

The functional development of the ruminal epithelium which covers the luminal surface of the rumen is crucial for proper solid feed utilization and body functions during the transition from a preruminant to a ruminant state in cattle. This review presents a discussion of recent investigations on the role of exogenous butyrate in the morphological and metabolic maturation processes in ruminal epithelial cells. In addition, the effects of the introduction of butyric acid salts into a diet in terms of improving calf performance are discussed, and some areas for future investigation are identified.

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Why is it important?

The enlargement of the ruminal epithelium surface area and the development of ruminal epithelial cells capabilities for oxidation of SCFA in the ketogenesis pathway is stimulated by dietary supplementation with butyrate. However, the transfer of the accelerated development of the ruminal epithelial tissue into improvement of calf performance is inconclusive. The relationship between the development of ruminal epithelium in calves and the improvement of calf performance is still largely unknown and this is an area for future investigation. The strategies for improving calf performance are not sufficiently well recognized.