The Effects of Germanium Biotite Supplement as a Prophylactic Agent against Respiratory Infection in Calves

Germanium biotite, a natural mineral, is comprised of mainly silicate. This mineral showed activities of increase in feed efficiency and non-specific immunostimulation in previous studies. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prophylactic effects of germanium biotite against respiratory diseases in calves as a feed supplement and investigate the possibilities of the substitution of antibiotics with germanium biotite as feed additive. To achieve these purposes, bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) and Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1 were experimentally inoculated into the calves. After challenge, germanium biotite showed a lower cumulative clinical score (CCS) than the control group. In accordance with these clinical results, enhanced clearance of BHV-1, a low infection rate of Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1, tempered superficial lesions, and moderated histopathological signs were observed in the germanium biotite group, compared with the control group. The results of the present study indicated that germanium biotite had prophylactic effects against bovine respiratory disease and could be a candidate for a new alternative feed supplement in calves, through its effects as a non-specific immune stimulator.