Beta-glucan supplementation in weaned Holstein steers prior to an endotoxin immune challenge to examine the effects on immunological and physiological systems

Authors: SMOCK, TAYLOR - Texas Tech University; CHILDRESS, KALLIE - Texas Tech University; HALES, KIRSTIN - Texas Tech University; DAVIS, EMILY - Texas Tech University; Broadway, Paul; Carroll, Jeffery; HERGENREDER, JERILYN - Kemin Industries, Inc; CANTERBURY, LANDON - Kemin Industries, Inc; Sanchez, Nicole

Submitted to: Applied Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/22/2025
Publication Date: 12/1/2025
Citation: Smock, T.M., Childress, K.D., Hales, K.E., Davis, E.M., Broadway, P.R., Carroll, J.A., Hergenreder, J.E., Canterbury, L.G., Sanchez, N.C. 2025. Beta-glucan supplementation in weaned Holstein steers prior to an endotoxin immune challenge to examine the effects on immunological and physiological systems. Applied Animal Science. 41(6):669-676. https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2025-02717.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2025-02717

Interpretive Summary: Beta-glucans are molecules on the cell wall of yeasts, algae, and cereal grains. Studies have found that beta-glucans can have positive effects on immunity. Beta-glucan from yeast requires extraction which is expensive. Algae derived beta-glucan requires no extraction. However, there are limited studies using algae derived beta-glucans in cattle. Scientists in Lubbock, TX, along with university and industry collaborators, studied the effect of feeding algae derived beta-glucan on innate immunity in dairy calves. Feeding a beta-glucan supplement to calves did not affect performance. Also, there were limited differences in the innate immune response in calves fed a beta-glucan supplement. Data from this study suggest more work is needed to identify the best dose for algae derived beta-glucan in dairy calves. These data will be of interest to scientists in the field of cattle health and well-being and cattle producers.

Technical Abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of supplementing weaned dairy steers with ß-glucan on the acute phase response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Holstein steers (n = 40; BW = 103 ' 0.5 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental treatments: 1) negative control (CON); 2) 1 g per steer daily prepared '-glucan (BG) product (Aleta, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA); 3) 2.5 g per steer daily prepared BG product; or, 4) 5 g per steer daily prepared BG product. Treatments were fed for 22 d. After 21 d of supplementation, steers were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters for serial blood collection, and rectal temperature measurement devices. On d 22, all steers were challenged intravenously with LPS (0.25 µg/kg BW), and blood samples were collected for serum isolation, hematology, and neutrophil phagocytosis at -2, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 24 h relative to LPS administration at 0 h. Following initial analysis, no differences amongst the three different BG treatments were found, and thus all three BG treatments were combined and analyzed in comparison to CON calves (CON, n = 10 vs. BG, n = 30). There was no treatment effect for rectal temperature, performance, cortisol or glucose concentrations. There was a treatment × time interaction for count and percentage of neutrophils, lymphocytes and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.06). Neutrophil phagocytosis was less (P = 0.02) in BG supplemented calves than CON calves. Peak TNF-a concentrations were greater in BG calves compared to CON calves (treatment × time P = 0.04) while concentrations of IFN-aA and MIP-1ß were less in BG than CON calves (P = 0.04). There were no effects of performance and limited differences in acute phase response variables affected by supplementation of weaned dairy steers with BG. The treatment differences observed are supported within the literature for BG supplements and suggest a decreased inflammatory response. Additional studies are needed to identify the appropriate dose for BG supplementation in weaned dairy calves.