Probiotic and prebiotic feed additives in calf nutrition

Abstract

The target of the research was to analyze the effect of antidiarrheal feed additives on calves average daily weight gain. In the study, 120 calves were analyzed. Newborns were selected into 3 treatment groups, control (without supplementation) and group with Ascophyllum nodosum (prebiotics), and mixture of Lactobacillus sporogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Bifidobacterium bifidum (probiotics). Individual body weight of animal were determined after 2 hours post-partum. Monitoring of the growth intensity, as well as health status were done till 56 days of age. Significant effects (P<0.01) of additive supplementation were found in the group with probiotics, in body weight at the age 21 days, as well as at the age of 56 days of life. Significant effect (P<0.01) of probiotics supplementation was found also in daily weight gains of animals. On the base of analyzed results, probiotics in calves nutrition stimulate the body weight.

Keywords

• calves
• probiotics
• prebiotics
• health
• nutrition