The effect of probiotics on health status and performance of Holstein calves

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

ali hoseinkhani ¹ , monireh darezereshkipoor ² , khosro parsaeimehr ³ , حبیب Cheraghi ⁴ , arash javanmard ⁵

1 - Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
2 - Former MSc Student, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran.
3 - PhD Student, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran.
4 - Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
5 - Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Received: 2017-05-28 Accepted : 2018-02-03 Published : 2018-08-23

Keywords: Performance, probiotics, blood parameters, Health indicators, Suckling calves,

Abstract :

The positive effect of probiotics on performance and health status of suckling calves has long been demonstrated. Probiotics are a group of living microorganisms used in livestock feeding, These additives not only have no harmful effects to living organisms, but secrete various enzymes which break down organic carbon chains and produce substances such as sugars, alcohols, vitamins and other nutrients. In order to carry out the present study, 24 male and female calves with an average weight of 50±3 kg and age of 40±3 days were selected for an experimental period of 45 days. The treatments included consisted of, 1- control group, 2- the group receiving Lactobacillus casei and 3- the group receiving Lactobacillus acidophilus. The probiotics were given to calves along withphysiological saline solution. The use oflactobacilli had no significant effect on feed intake although their supplementation increased the weight of the calves during the entire period (p<0.05). Also, the results demonstrated that treatments containing probiotics improved feed efficiency in the period of weaning as well as in the entire period of the experiment (p<0.05). Moreover, supplementation of probiotics in the diet of calves significantly increased blood glucose content and reduced blood urea nitrogen (p<0.05). Inversely, no significant effect on the amount of total protein, albumin, triglycerides and blood cholesterol was shown. Furthermore, the results showed that probiotic supplements improved health indicators numerically but not statistically. According to the results, it can be concluded that supplementation of probiotics in the diet of calves improves performance and has a beneficial effect on some blood parameters.

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