Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of Nigella sativa meal (NSM) and sesame meal (SM) in the starter feed on growth performance, blood metabolites, immunity, and health of pre-weaning Holstein calves.
Materials and Methods: Forty male calves were used in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements in a completely randomized design. The four treatments were: 1) Control (basal diet), 2) Basal diet + 5% NSM, 3) Basal diet + 5% SM, and 4) Basal diet + an equal mixture of NSM and SM (NSM × SM).
Results: Results indicated that treatments containing NSM and SM significantly (p < 0.05) improved growth performance, feed intake, immunity, and health. The NSM × SM interaction increased final body weight gain by 7.66%, 10.53%, and 7.32% compared to the control, NSM, and SM treatments, respectively. This treatment also superiorly improved feed efficiency by 16.67%, 12.35%, and 7.06%, respectively. The NSM × SM group showed the lowest serum concentrations of glucose (19% lower), triglycerides (19.5% lower), and cholesterol (14.2% lower) than the control. Conversely, it had the highest serum concentrations of total protein (11% higher), albumin (17.9% higher), immunoglobulin G (IgG, 36.9% higher), and white blood cell (WBC) count (33.1% higher) compared to the control.
Conclusions: In conclusion, incorporating 5% sesame and N. sativa meals, especially as an equal mixture, into calves’ starter feed enhanced growth rate, feed efficiency, immunity, and overall health in pre-weaning dairy calves.

Key words: Blood parameters; feed efficiency; growth; health; immunity; pre-weaning calf