Effects of isobutyrate supplementation on growth performance, ruminal fermentation and cellulolytic bacterial abundance in calves

This study evaluated the effects of isobutyrate (IB) supplementation on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, ruminal cellulolytic bacteria abundance and ruminal enzyme activities in pre- and post-weaned dairy calves. Thirty-six Chinese Holstein male calves were randomly allocated to four groups at 15 days of age. The treatments were control, low-IB (LIB), medium-IB (MIB) and high-IB (HIB) with 0, 3, 6 and 9 g isobutyrate per calf per day, …