Effects of dietary supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus on gastrointestinal tract development in calves

Twenty-four newborn Holstein dairy male calves (with initial body weight of 38 +/- 3.0kg) were used in a randomized block design experiment to determine effects of dietary supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) on gastrointestinal tract development. Calves were fed milk (10%/body weight) three times at 06.00, 12.00 and 18.00hours daily with one to four treatments during the experimental periods (4 to 28 days): no supplementation of AS (control group, CG); 1.0g/L center dot time of micro-powder AS (MP); 1.0g/L center dot time of superfine powder AS (SP); or 1.0g/L center dot time of coarse powder AS (CP). On days 7, 14, 21 and 28, 20mL blood samples were collected at 06.00hours before the morning feeding. At the end of the trial (28days), all calves were euthanized, and tissue samples were taken and placed in 4% buffered formaldehyde for analyses. In the rumen of MP treatment, compared with the CG treatment, wall thickness and papillae diameter was both significantly lower (P<0.05), while crypt depth was significantly greater (P<0.05). In the duodenum, villi diameter of AS supplemented treatments was significantly lower than that of CG treatment (P<0.05). Results indicate that calves during sucking period supplemented with AS as MP style could promote gastrointestinal development.