Is Na-butyrate a growth factor in the preruminantcalf? Preliminary results

Na-butyrate was studied as a candidate food additive in artifi cial milk replacer, which may potentially replace the use of feed antibiotics in the preruminant calf. The results of two experiments employing Na-butyrate are shown. Supplementation of milk replacer with Na-butyrate increased pancreatic exocrine secretion, probably due to stimulation of secretagogue gut regulatory peptides, which in turn resulted in better digestion effi ciency and enhanced animal's growth. The carcass weight was also increased. Finally, Na-butyrate may be a good candidate to replace antibiotics as growth promotors in artifi cial milk replacers but more studies are necessary to explain the mechanisms involved.