Growth and haematological parameters in murrah buffalo calves as affected by addition of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the diet

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of inclusion of Lactobacillus acidophilus in diet on DM intake, growth and haematological parameters in Murrah buffalo calves. Twenty four neonatal calves (5–7 days) were divided into four groups of six animals each. The calves were assigned to different dietary treatments viz. CON (basal diet alone, control), T1 (basal diet+ fermented milk @100 mL/calf/d having 108 CFU/mL), T2 (basal diet+ fermented milk @ 200 mL/calf/d having 108 CFU/mL) and T3 (basal diet+ fermented milk @ 300 mL/calf/d having 108 CFU/mL) for a period of 90 d. The weight gain and average daily gain was higher (P<0.05) in probiotic supplemented group as compared to control group. The DM intake was also higher (P<0.05) in groups T2 and T3 compared to CON. There was a significant increase in leucocyte count in groups T2 and T3 as compared to control and T1 groups. There was no effect of the supplementation of probiotic on haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in groups T2 and T 3 showed higher values as compared to control and T1 groups. The values of mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were higher (P<0.001) in groups T1, T2 and T3 than control group. The values of neutrophils (%), lymphocytes (%), monocytes (%), eiosinophils (%) and basophils (%) were similar in all the groups. It might be concluded that supplementation of probiotic as fermented milk @ 200 and 300 mL/calf/d having 108 CFU/mL to Murrah buffalo calves would be beneficial in terms of improved growth, DM intake, leukocyte count, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Further, it was also observed that supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus as fermented milk @ 200 mL/calf/d was optimum.