抄録
Growth effect of sugar supplementation was determined in 49 retarded growth calves. Table sugar was supplemented to the calves with 1 g/kg BW, two times weekly for 8 weeks. Glucose tolerance test prior to the experiment showed no difference between retarded growth calves and normal growth controls. After sugar supplementation, calves were classified into 4 groups characterized by the periodic change of daily weight gain (DG) with high (H) or low (L) with the breakpoint of 0.8 kg/d in three periods; birth to sugar supplementation (Birth-Pre), 8 weeks during supplementation (Pre-Post) and after feeding to market (Post-Market). Periodic DG showed marked increase after supplementation in Pre-Post and Post-Market compared to before supplementation during Birth-Pre in 2 groups (L-H-H (n=19): 0.93, 1.11 vs. 0.51 kg/day, L-L-H (n=24): 0.66, 1.19 vs. 0.42 kg/day), but no difference in L-H-L (n=3) and L-L-L (n=3). Peripheral blood was collected on d Pre, Post and eight weeks after cease of supplementation. Blood concentrations of both insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and glucose showed significant increase in L-H-H and L-L-H, but decrease in non-esterified fatty acid in L-H-H and L-L-L on d Post compared to on d Pre, respectively (p<0.05). At the market, sugar supplemented calves attained similar body weight to the market average. Growth effect of sugar supplementation could be stimulated through the development of rumen papilla with sucrose, the main component of table sugar.
