1867
Effect of "COGU" technology on glucose uptake and mineral utilization and deposition in growing lambs
“COGU” is a proprietary combination of GRAS microbial fermentation extracts meant to diminish the negative impact of mineral interactions that may be responsible for inefficient digestibility, absorption and utilization of nutrients in livestock. The objective of this study was to observe the effect of COGU technology additive (COGU) on blood glucose uptake, mineral utilization and deposition in the ruminant. Twenty-four Katahdin wethers (average BW 15.8 ± 1.5 kg) approximately 55 days of age were fed ad libitum either a silage based control diet (CON), or CON plus 3.4 g/head/d of a supplement containing COGU. Lambs were penned in groups of six with two pens per treatment. ADG was calculated for each animal and DMI was measured for each pen throughout d 100 of the experiment. Jugular blood samples were analyzed for each animal during wk 0, 4, 8, 10, and 12. Eight CON and 9 COGU sheep were housed in crates 5 d for total collection of orts, fecal and urinary samples for digestibility and nutrient utilization. All lambs were euthanized at the end of the experiment, and tissues collected for biological analysis. Data were analyzed by ANOVA CRD. No differences (p > 0.05) were observed between dietary treatments for DMI, ADG, or digestibility of nutrients. However, COGU-supplemented lambs had numerically greater digestibility of Na, P, S and Cu. Blood glucose in COGU lambs was higher (CON= 61.90 mg/dL, COGU= 72.98 mg/dL; p = 0.0005) throughout the trial. Previous unpublished research also showed higher blood glucose in COGU-supplemented lambs. Liver glycogen was numerically higher (p > 0.05) in COGU-supplemented lambs. No differences were observed in blood NH3, BHBA, BUN, cholesterol, or NEFA. Rumen fluid contents showed COGU tended to increase (p = 0.054) the molar proportion of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Duodenum mucosal cell scrapings in COGU treatment had decreased (p = 0.019) Mg. Copper, Mn, and Zn were numerically higher (p > 0.05) and Fe lower (p > 0.05) in duodenum mucosal cell scrapings of COGU-supplemented lambs. In conclusion, supplemental COGU seems to increase blood glucose uptake in the growing lamb. It also may affect mineral passage and utilization through the duodenum mucosal cell membrane.
Keywords: glucose, mineral, lambs