Finding solutions to alleviate gastrointestinal health in dairy cows and calves

加拿大奶业为国内生产总值贡献了近200亿美元，是该国最大的农业部门之一。鉴于乳制品行业的贡献和重要性，找到危害动物健康、福利和生产力的问题的解决方案至关重要。围产期奶牛和断奶前小牛的一个共同担忧是胃肠道(GIT)屏障功能障碍和炎症增加，与高发病率和生产力下降相关，对动物福利和农场利润产生负面影响。益生菌已经成功地用于治疗和预防人类胃肠道相关疾病。在单胃动物中添加益生菌酵母酿酒酵母变种。Boulardii CNCM I-1079(SCB)已被证明可调节Git通透性、微生物区系和免疫低下受试者的免疫反应，有效地改善Git功能、健康和生产力。以往评价奶牛添加酵母的研究主要集中在采食量、饲料消化率和产奶期的生产反应上。然而，很少有研究评估SCB对围产期奶牛和断奶前小牛的胃液通透性和炎症的影响。因此，本研究项目的总体目标是评估补充SCB作为一种创新的解决方案，以缓解奶牛和犊牛在过渡和断奶前阶段的GIT屏障功能障碍和炎症。这项研究的结果将确定一种非抗菌剂替代品在提高奶牛和断奶前小牛的健康、福利和生产性能方面的有效性。因此，这项建议将减少乳制品行业对抗菌治疗的依赖，从而符合市场和消费者改善动物健康、福利和食品安全的需求。

The Canadian dairy industry contributes almost $20 billion to the gross domestic product, constituting one of the country's largest agricultural sectors. Given its contribution and significance, it is critical that the dairy industry find solutions to issues that jeopardize animal health, welfare, and productivity. One common concern among periparturient dairy cows and preweaning calves is increased gastrointestinal (GIT) barrier dysfunction and inflammation, associated with high morbidity and decreased productivity, negatively impacting animal welfare and farm profitability. Probiotics have been successfully used to treat and prevent GIT-related disorders in humans. In monogastric animals, supplementation of the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii CNCM I-1079 (SCB) has been shown to modulate GIT permeability, microbiota, and immune response of immune-compromised subjects, effectively improving GIT function, health, and productivity. Previous studies evaluating yeast supplementation in dairy cows focused mainly on feed intake, digestibility of feeds, and production responses in established lactation. However, there is a paucity of studies assessing the effects of SCB on GIT permeability and inflammation of periparturient cows and preweaning calves. Therefore, the overall objective of this research project is to evaluate SCB supplementation as an innovative solution to alleviate GIT barrier dysfunction and inflammation during the transition and preweaning periods of dairy cows and calves. The outcomes of this research will determine the efficacy of a nonantimicrobial alternative to enhance the health, welfare, and performance of dairy cows and preweaning calves. As such, this proposal will reduce the dairy industry's reliance on antimicrobial treatments, thus aligning with the market and consumer demands to improve animal health, welfare, and food safety.