SUCKLING CALVES PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNE STATUS AS AFFECTED BY LACTOCOCCUS LACTIS AS A PROBIOTIC SOURCE

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the effects of Probiotic, Lactococcus lactis bacteria (LC.) on growth performance, nutrients digestibilities, diarrhea incidence and immune status of buffalo calves. Thirteen suckling buffalo calves were divided into two groups according to their body weight, age and sex (T1- Control (No LC. supplementation, T2- 4 g LC. Per calf in breast milk). The Calves were fed 10% of their body weight fresh milk 2 times daily and provided calf starter and clover hay to meet their requirements of DM according to Kearl (1982). Calves body weight was recorded at the start of the experiment and thereafter regularly at 10 days interval. Diarrhea occurrence also faecal scores have been detected. After completion of the feeding trial, three animals per treatment were used in a metabolism trial. We obtained blood samples at the end of the study from each calf through jugular vein puncture. Obtained results showed significant (P 0.05).