Effects of flavonoids from mulberry leaves and candida tropicalis on performance and nutrient digestibility in calves

Flavonoids from mulberry leave (FML) are natural flavonoids, and Candida tropicalis (CT) is yeast like microbe. In this study, forty-eight male calves were selected with born weight (40.5±0.7 kg) and 20±2 days age, divided into 4 groups randomly. FML was supplemented in a dairy calf starter at 2 g/d per calf before weaning, or 4 g/d per calf after weaning (FML group), while CT was added in a dairy calf starter at 1 g/d per calf (CT group). Our results showed that FML could be used to enhance body weight (BW) of calves through enhancing apparent digestibility of ether extract (EE) of the diet, and increased the levels of serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factors 1 (IGF-1) in calves after the age of 56 days. CT enhanced the BW of calves before weaning through increasing the apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of the diet, and elevated the apparent digestibility of EE of the diet of calves after weaning through increasing the level of serum IGF-1 in calves. Furthermore, the mixture of FML and CT plays a synergistic role in enhancing growth, improving feed intake and nutriment digestibility. In conclusion, FML and CT could be used as additives to increase growth and nutrient digestibility in calves.