Effects of branched-chain volatile fatty acids supplementation on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, hepatic lipid content and gene expression of dairy calves

This study evaluated the effects of branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) supplementation on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, hepatic lipid content and gene expression of dairy calves. Forty-eight Chinese Holstein male calves (10 months of age; 345 ± 6.4 kg of body weight [BW]) were assigned randomly to four treatments with 0, 60, 120 and 180 mg BCVFA per kg BW per day for each calf. Supplemental BCVFA was …