Effects of weaning and inactivated Lactobacillus helveticus supplementation on dairy calf behavioral and physiological indicators of affective state

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The objectives of this study were to determine if weaning would induce behavioral and physiological indicators of a negative affective state, and if supplementation of inactivated Lactobacillus helveticus (ILH) to dairy calves would reduce those indicators of negative affect during weaning. Male Holstein calves (n = 23) were enrolled in the study on d 1 of life. The calves were housed in individual pens in 1 of 4 rooms for the 42-d study. Calves began a step-down weaning from 9 L/d of milk replacer (MR), at 150 g of MR powder/L, on d 35 and received 6 L/d on d 35 to 36, 3 L/d on d 37 to 38, and 0.4 L/d on d 39 to 42. The MR was divided between 3 meals/d until the last 0.4 L/d phase, which was divided between 2 meals/d. Calves had ad libitum water access throughout the study and calf starter from d 28 onward. Within room, calves were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: (1) control (CON; n = 11) and (2) 5 g of ILH/d split over and mixed into the 0800 h and 2000 h milk feedings from d 3 to 42 (ILH; n = 12). Lying behavior was recorded using HOBO data loggers from d 21 to 41. On d 33, 37, and 41, infrared eye images were taken to determine maximum eye temperature (MET), saliva samples were collected to determine cortisol concentration, and play assessments were conducted to quantify play behavior. On d 34, 38, and 42, blood samples were collected to determine blood serotonin concentration, whereas on d 38 and 39, calves were tested with a cognitive task. A subset of calves (n = 5/treatment) were euthanized to collect gut and brain tissue samples for serotonin concentration on d 43. Weaning resulted in fewer (d 37–41; tendency: d 36), but longer (d 38–41; tendency: d 37), lying bouts and reduced play (d 41), although no changes in lying time, MET, saliva cortisol, nor blood serotonin were detected with initiation of weaning. Supplementation of ILH was associated with less lying time throughout the study, and reduced play duration and higher salivary cortisol during weaning. No differences in lying bouts, play count, blood and tissue (colon, ileum, prefrontal cortex and brain stem) serotonin concentration, and time to complete the cognitive task were detected between the treatments. Overall, weaning induced behavioral changes indicative of negative affective state, and some behavioral differences were observed with ILH supplementation both before and during weaning, with some physiological changes observed during weaning.

Keywords

• microbial-based solutions
• gut-brain axis
• behavior
• weaning stress