CHITOSAN IN THE DIET OF YOUNG CATTLE (OVERVIEW)

Abstract

Chitosan has a positive effect on the growth and development of calves, increasing the
digestibility of fibre and feed, as well as increasing the rumen enzymatic activity of
ruminants. The addition of chitosan in the diet of calves under the age of one year leads to a
decrease in methane formation by almost 2.5 times and, consequently, to an increase in energy
efficiency. Chitosan increases rumen pH during feed fermentation, and increasing doses of
chitosan have a beneficial effect on nutrient intake and overall digestibility, rumen enzymatic
activity, microbial protein synthesis, nitrogen utilization, and urea and creatinine metabolism
in calves under one year of age. In the diet of grazing calves сhitosan has a positive effect on
the concentration of propionate in the rumen and on the acetate to propionate ratio in the
rumen. However, it does not affect the total short-chain fatty acids concentration, improving
the microbial protein synthesis. In addition, chitosan is introduced into the diet of calves as an
immunoamplifier, being an indirect growth stimulant by enhancing the immune function of
animals. Specific immunoglobulins in combination with lymphokines determine the status of
humoral immunity, which plays an essential role in protecting against bacterial as well as viral
infections. The addition of chitosan in feed also enhances cellular immunity. Chitosan has a
positive therapeutic effect on calves suffering from diarrhea caused by bacteria. It effectively
inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause diarrhea by increasing the bactericidal and
lysozymic activity in the blood of calves. Chitosan, when used in the diet of calves under one
year of age as a feed additive, helps to increase the productivity of animals, improves the
immune and antioxidant status of the body, and also has an antibacterial effect and can be
used as a prophylactic remedy for infections of the gastrointestinal tract in calves under one
year of age.