Effect of baicalin supplementation on the growth, health, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, and immune function of preweaned calves

Baicalin is a bioactive flavonoid compound derived from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi with antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin supplementation on growth, health, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in preweaned calves. Forty-five bull calves were randomly assigned to 3 treatments of milk replacer diet supplemented with baicalin at 0 (CON), 10 (B10), and 20 mg/kg (B20) of body weight (BW) per day, respectively. The calves remained in the trial from 7 to 56 d of age. The baicalin supplementation trended to quadratically increase the average daily gain, with the greatest values in B10 group, and trended to linearly decreased the feed-to-gain ratio. The calves in the CON group had a greater chance of diarrhea and medication for diarrhea than the calves in baicalin supplementation groups. The baicalin supplementation quadratically increased concentrations of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, interleukin-10, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, and immunoglobulin G in the serum, and quadratically decreased concentrations of malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8, with the greater values fed 10 mg/kg of baicalin for calves. The results of this study indicated that baicalin supplementation improved the growth performance and health for preweaned calves. The baicalin supplementation at 10 mg/kg BW per day improved the blood antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune functions, while reduced severity and occurrence of diarrhea in preweaning period of calves.