title: Effects of a dietary sweetener on growth performance and health of stressed beef calves and on diet digestibility and plasma and urinary metabolite concentrations of healthy calves.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to explore the effects of a sodium saccharin-based dietary sweetener (Sucram) on growth performance, health, and physiological responses of feedlot steers. In Exp. 1, 173 newly-received male calves purchased from auction barns were fed 0, 100, 200, or 300 g of Sucram/t of DM over 56 d. Overall, ADG and G:F (P > 0.10) were not different among treatments, but steers receiving 200 g Sucram/t displayed numerically greater ADG (23%). In addition, DMI was 17% greater for steers receiving 200 g of Sucram/t compared to steers fed the control diet (cubic effect, P = 0.09). The morbidity rate for respiratory disease did not differ (P > 0.50) among treatments. In Exp. 2, 15 steers (initial BW = 261 ± 28 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of Sucram on apparent total tract digestibility, plasma metabolite concentrations, and urine monoamine metabolite concentrations. Treatments consisted of ad libitum access to a 60% concentrate diet (Control), ad libitum access to Control + 200 g of Sucram/t of DM (Adlib), and Control + 200 g of Sucram/t of DM with feed intake paired to the Control (Paired). By design, steer DMI during the metabolism period did not differ (P = 0.34) between Paired and Control, but DMI tended (P = 0.14) to be 8.2% greater for Adlib than for Control. Treatments did not alter (P > 0.17) apparent total tract nutrient digestibility. Postprandial plasma citrulline concentration was lower (P = 0.03) for Adlib than for Control and tended to be lower (P = 0.13) for Paired than for Control. Plasma homocysteine concentration was reduced (P < 0.03) by feeding Sucram. Urinary concentrations of ethylmalonic acid, vanillymandelic acid, and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid were greater (P < 0.06) for Adlib than for Control; Paired steers had a greater (P = 0.02) urine vanillymandelic acid concentration than Control steers and tended (P < 0.12) to have a greater urinary concentration of ethylmalonic and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid than Control steers. Serum insulin was greater for Adlib than for Control steers (P = 0.04) and tended to be greater for Paired than for Control steers (P = 0.14), but serum prolactin area did not differ (P > 0.22) among treatments. Supplementation with Sucram may increase feed intake by newly-received, stressed feedlot calves. Saccharin supplementation reduced plasma homocysteine and increased urinary excretion of vanillymandelic acid, suggesting an improved activity of the dopamine reward system.
authors.affiliation: Feedlot Research Group, West Texas A&M University, Canyon.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ponce
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlegel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rounds
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hallford
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D011388:Prolactin