Early weaning of calves using feedstuffs. A rationalization based on inhibition of lipolysis.

The ability of broll (a combination of the wheat-milling byproducts bran and pollard, i.e., a mixture of wheat bran, husk, and flour) and blackstrap molasses (an ingredient of calf feed) to inhibit calf pregastric lipase (CPGL)-catalyzed hydrolysis of tributyrylglycerol (TBG) has been studied in vitro. Lipolysis was measured at pH 6.5 and 37 degrees C (CPGL at 0.02 mg/mL) with stirring at 300 rpm. The broll soaked in Bis-Tris buffer (50 mM, pH 6.5) at 4 degrees C for either 24 h or 15 min, and then added to an emulsion containing TBG, before initiation of the reaction by addition of CPGL, exhibited 22% inhibitory effect. A solution of blackstrap molasses (50%, v/v) exhibited inhibitory effects of 50% in the absence and 45% in the presence of Bis-Tris buffer. The initial rate of lipolysis in the presence of the dialyzed molasses retentate (10%, v/v) increased a little, compared with the same amount of crude molasses, from a mean value of 69% to a mean value of 74%. The results have been discussed in terms of the chemical nature and composition of broll and molasses and their roles as components of feedstuffs used in development of the rumen in early weaning of calves.