Effects of pre-weaning probiotic treatments on growth performance and biochemical blood parameters of Holstein calves

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of pre-weaning probiotic treatments on growth performance of male Holstein calves. For experimental treatments, 20 male calves were divided into 2 groups as of control and treatment group. Control group calves were supplied with fresh milk daily in two meals without any growth promoting supplement. Together with fresh milk supply, treatment group calves were supplied with additional 2 g probiotics to their morning meal. Throughout 56-day milk-feeding period, live weights (LW) and feed consumptions (FC) of the calves were determined. As compared to the control group, probiotic-supplemented calves had 5.25% higher weaning live weight and 11.4% higher daily live weight gain (P less than 0.05). Probiotic-supplemented calves consumed 2% more feed than the control calves (P>0.05) and had 9.52% better feed conversion ratio than the control group calves (P less than 0.05). Probiotic supplementation did not affect blood biochemical parameters significantly (P less than 0.05), except ALT, triglyceride and iron levels (P less than 0.05). It was concluded that probiotic supplementation during milk-feeding period improved growth performance of experimental Holstein calves.