Effects of dietary humates on growth and an aspect of cell-mediated immune response in newborn kids

Forty-eight newborn female kids were divided into three uniform groups of 16 animals: control (C), low dosage (LD) and high dosage (HD). In the first week the LD group was given an oral humate preparation (5 ml/d); in weeks 2 and 3 they were given 10 ml/d, and in weeks 4-8 they were given 15 ml/d. The HD group received double the LD doses and group C received no humates. Daily group feed intake and individual body weight (BW) were recorded on days 1, 21, 42, and 56. Skin test, as an indirect index of cell-mediated immune responsiveness, was performed on days 21 and 42. Daily milk consumption per group was greater in the HD (2.01 kg/d) and LD (2.06 kg/d) groups than group C (1.86 kg/d), BW and ADG were significantly greater in the treated groups than group C. Feed conversion rate per group was higher in the HD group than LD and C groups. Skin was thicker on day 21 (but not day 42) in treated groups than group C. Humate administration at both dosages for 8 weeks improved growth performance in the newborn kids and also had an effect at 21 d on skin reaction to phytohemagglutinin suggesting a possible effect on cell-mediated immune response.