Effect of propolis on plasma metabolites and hematocrit of Holstein calves

Abstract Text:

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of propolis powder on the plasma metabolites and hematocrit of suckling calves. Propolis in this experiment was come from Taleghan vicinity (near Tehran). 40 Holstein female calves with 41±1 kg of body weight from 14 to 65 days of old were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 10 replicates in each treatment. Treatments were 1) Control (without Monensin in starter and without propolis in milk), 2) Starter without Monensin and 500ppm soluble propolis powder in milk, 3) Starter without Monensin and 1000ppm soluble propolis powder in milk and 4) Monensin in starter and without propolis in milk. Starter was formulated according to NRC 2001 (21.6% CP and 2.89 ME (mcal/kg)). Calves received 6 L/d of milk replacer (milk protein based, 22% CP, 19% EE) for the 6 weeks. Blood sample were collected every 14 days (3hours after feeding), then transferred to laboratory and hematocrit (platelets, hemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, lymphocyte) were measured. Blood samples centrifuged and plasma separated from blood to measure metabolites (total protein, albumin, Immunoglobulin G). Results showed that mean concentration of Platelets (3.06, 4.95, 3.18, 5.63 *10⁵/ml) and Lymphocytes (69.50, 72.25, 75.25, 71.75 %) were not affected by treatments. Hemoglobin (11.12, 8.8, 10.15, 9.6 g/dl) red blood cell (11.28, 8.07, 10.19, 10.28 *10^6/ml) for treatments 1-4 respectively were not affected by treatments. For white blood cell (50.75, 60.75, 71.50, 52.25 *10³/ml for treatment 1-4 respectively) there was a tendency to be affected by treatments (p=0.06). Mean concentration of Total Protein (10.94, 11.31, 11.68, 11.54 g/dl) had a trend to significance (p=0.09). Albumin (6.13, 5.63, 6.13, 5.66 g/dl) and Immunoglobulin G (1.91, 1.73, 2.00, 1.47(g/dl) for treatment 1-4 respectively) significantly affected by treatments (p<0.05). It is concluded that 1000 ppm propolis in compare of Monensin has potential to improve immune responses through its effect on the WBC, Albumin and IgG of Holstein female calves.

Keywords: propolis, Holstein female calves, immune responses