Effect of Probiotic and Milk Feeding Frequency on Performance of Dairy Holstein Calves

Effects of Bacillus licheniformis and Combination of Probiotics and Enzymes as Supplements on Growth Performance and Serum Parameters in Early-Weaned Grazing Yak Calves

Early weaning is an effective strategy to improve cow feed utilization and shorten postpartum intervals in cows; however, this may lead to poor performance of the weaned calves. This study was conducted to test the effects of supplementing milk replacer with Bacillus licheniformis and a complex of probiotics and enzyme preparations on body weight (BW), size, and serum biochemical parameters and hormones in early-weaned grazing yak calves. Thirty two-month-old male grazing yaks (38.89 ± 1.45 kg body weight) were fed milk replacer at 3% of their BW and were randomly assigned to three treatments (n = 10, each): T1 (supplementation with 0.15 g/kg Bacillus licheniformis), T2 (supplementation with a 2.4 g/kg combination of probiotics and enzymes), and a control (without supplementation). Compared to the controls, the average daily gain (ADG) from 0 to 60 d was significantly higher in calves administered the T1 and T2 treatments, and that from 30 to 60 d was significantly higher in calves administered the T2 treatment. The ADG from 0 to 60 d was significantly higher in the T2- than in the T1-treated yaks. The concentration of serum growth hormone, insulin growth factor-1, and epidermal growth factor was significantly higher in the T2-treated calves than in the controls. The concentration of serum cortisol was significantly lower in the T1 treatment than in the controls. We concluded that supplementation with probiotics alone or a combination of probiotics and enzymes can improve the ADG of early-weaned grazing yak calves. Supplementation with the combination of probiotics and enzymes had a stronger positive effect on growth and serum hormone levels, compared to the single-probiotic treatment with Bacillus licheniformis, providing a basis for the application of a combination of probiotics and enzymes.

Efficacy of Lactobacillus animalis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii-Based Feed Additives in Reducing Salmonella-Associated Health and Performance Effects in Commercial Beef Calves

Salmonella enterica, which causes typhoid fever, is one of the most prevalent food-borne pathogens. Salmonellosis in cattle can greatly impact a producer’s income due to treatment costs, decreased productivity of the herd, and mortality due to disease. Current methods of treatment and prevention for salmonellosis consist of antibiotics and vaccinations, but neither of these options are perfect. Probiotics, categorized as antibiotic alternatives, are living microorganisms that are added to animal feeds in appropriate quantities in order to benefit health and productivity in adult and newborn livestock. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that Lactobacillus animalis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii, when used as a direct-fed microbial, was effective in reducing the adverse effects of experimentally induced Salmonella infection in beef calves. We conducted a single site efficacy study with masking using a randomized design comprising two groups of ten beef calves allocated to two treatment groups (control and probiotic). Procedures such as determining general health scores and body weight and collecting fecal samples were carried out following the experimental challenge of calves with Salmonella Typhimurium. The presence of at least one CFU of bacteria in feces was significantly higher among animals in the control than in the probiotic group, which was higher on days 0 to 7 than on days 8 to 14 (p = 0.012). Animals in the control group had a significantly higher presence of abnormal diarrhea scores than animals in the probiotic group (p < 0.001). Most notably, other health benefits in probiotic-fed group calves were obviously better than those for control calves and further substantiates the potential economic and health benefits of feeding effective probiotics.

Systematic review of an intervention: the use of probiotics to improve health and productivity of calves

The aims of this study were to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the types of probiotic formulations that are commercially available and to critically appraise the available evidence for the effectiveness of probiotics in improving the health and productivity of calves. Relevant papers were identified to answer the question: 'In calves aged between birth to one year, is the use of probiotics associated with changes in haematological or biochemical parameters, faecal bacteria counts, average daily live weight gain, dry matter intake, or feed conversion ratio?' The search of the literature yielded 67 studies that fit the primary screening criteria. Included studies were assessed for bias and confounding using a predefined risk assessment tool adapted from the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials and GRADE guidelines. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager and R. Random sequence generation was low in more than 59 % of studies. Risk of allocation concealment and performance bias were largely unclear in over 68 % of studies. Calves fed probiotics had increased average daily live weight gains (ADG) from birth to weaning (mean difference [MD] = 83.14 g/d 95 % CI = 58.36-107.91, P < 0.001) compared with calves on a control diet. Calf age reduced the level of heterogeneity of the effect of probiotics on ADG for calves between one to three weeks of age (τ² = 73.15; I² = 4%; P = 0.40) but not for calves older than three weeks of age (τ² = 2892.91; I² = 73 %; P < 0.001). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower for calves on probiotics (MD = -0.13 kg of dry matter intake (DMI) to kg of live weight (LW) gain, 95 % CI = -0.17 to -0.09, P < 0.001), and the heterogeneity of effect was large in younger aged calves (τ² = 0.05; I² = 78 %; P = 0.03). The risk of bias regarding the methodology in the included studies was high. The quality of evidence for each outcome was categorised as moderate. There is sufficient data to support the effectiveness of probiotic use in some applications such as for the improvement of performance and productivity parameters of calves. However, the evidence is weak for other potential probiotic uses in calves such as improved health and reduced risk of disease. Therefore, the existing data are inconclusive and do not support the use of probiotics as an alternative to antimicrobials to improve calf health and productivity.

The influence of "Stimix Zoostim" and "Normosil" probiotics on fecal microflora, hematologic indicators, nutrient digestibility, and growth of mother-bonded calves

Aim:

This paper presents the results of the studies on “Stimix Zoostim” and “Normosil” probiotics and their influence on fecal microflora, hematologic indicators, immunoresistance, nutrient digestibility, and growth intensity of mother-bonded calves.

Materials and Methods:

The calves of the control group were fed with their basic diet (BD) without “Stimix Zoostim” or “Normosil,” whereas the calves of the experimental group were fed with their BD supplemented with “Stimix Zoostim” and Normosil.” For 10-20-day-old calves, the daily dose was 10 mL per head, whereas 21-90-day-old calves received 15 mL of probiotics per head per day. The calves of the experimental group were administered probiotics every day. Calves aged 10 to 60 days received probiotics with milk, and then at the age of 61 to 90 days, received probiotics with water. (This is a sequential process. At 60 days old, calf rearing with milk stops, and after that, we use probiotics added to water to rear them). Both groups were administered probiotics twice a day, specifically 50% of the daily dose at each feeding time.

Results:

The results in this study proved that “Stimix Zoostim” and “Normosil” probiotics exhibit high probiotic activity and have a positive effect on the calves’ fecal microflora. Feeding the calves with probiotics resulted in a significant increase in the number of normal flora, such as lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, and a decrease in the amount of Escherichia. It also resulted in an increase in red blood cells, hemoglobin, and γ-globulins within the physiological range. In our study, we found that the phagocytic reaction in the blood serum of the experimental group was slightly enhanced, suggesting a high response of the body to infectious agents.

Conclusion:

Thus, the group of calves receiving probiotic “Stimix Zoostim” exhibited an exceedance of phagocytic activity by 4.8% and the group receiving “Normosil” by 4.4%, in comparison with the control group. The daily dose of 10 mL of probiotics per head for 10-20-day-old calves and 15 mL per head for 21-90-day-old calves also had a positive effect on nutrient digestibility, growth, and forage consumption. The economic benefit per animal was 149.23 and 157.0 rubles, respectively.

Effect of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on blood biochemical profile, antioxidant activity and plasma immunoglobulin level in neonatal Murrah buffalo calves

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on blood biochemical profile, antioxidant activity and plasma immunoglobulin level in neonatal Murrah buffalo calves. The 90 day trial was conducted on 24 neonatal Murrah buffalo calves randomly divided into 4 dietary treatments, viz. CON (basal diet alone), T1 (basal diet + L. acidophilus as a fermented milk @ 100 mL/calf/day having 108 CFU/mL), T2 (basal diet + L. acidophilus as a fermented milk @ 200 mL/calf/day having 108 CFU/ml) and T3 (basal diet + L. acidophilus as a fermented milk @ 300 ml/calf/day having 108 CFU/mL). Supplementation of probiotics improved the plasma glucose level in T2 and T3 as compared to CON. Total protein (TP), plasma albumin (A), plasma globulin (G) and A:G ratio did not change with the supplementation of probiotic in calves. Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels in plasma remained same in all the 4 groups. Total antioxidant (TA) activity was higher in T2 and T3 as compared to CON, whereas it was intermediate in T1. Super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in T1, T2 and T3 groups as compared to CON whereas catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity remained same in all groups throughout experimental period. The total plasma immunoglobulin and plasma IgG remained uninfluenced in all the groups. In conclusion, supplementation of L. acidophilus improved energy metabolism and antioxidant capacity in neonatal Murrah buffalo calves.

Effect of probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H57 on productivity and the incidence of diarrhoea in dairy calves

A spore-forming probiotic, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H57 (H57), was administered to dairy calves in starter pellets to determine effects on liveweight gain, feed conversion efficiency and animal health under summer feeding conditions, without antibiotics. Twenty-four male and female calves were allocated into two groups and from 4 weeks of age individually offered 6 L/day of whole milk and ad libitum starter pellets impregnated with H57 (3.16 × 108 cfu per kg DM) or without (Control) until 12 weeks of age. The calves were housed in a non-air-conditioned animal house, with deep-straw bedding over concrete, under typically challenging subtropical summer conditions. After 12 weeks the calves were released into a grazing paddock as one group and were supplemented ad libitum with control pellets and hay, until 19 weeks of age. From Weeks 4 to 12, liveweight and feed intakes were measured weekly and health status was monitored daily. Rumen fluid and blood were collected at Weeks 4 and 12, and to test for persistence after cessation of feeding H57, each were measured again at Week 19. From Weeks 4 to 12, the H57 calves grew faster (767 vs 551 g/day, P = 0.01), tended to consume more pellets (1013 vs 740 g DM/day, P = 0.07) and were 19% more feed conversion efficiency (2.43 vs 2.90 kg milk + starter DM/kg weight gain, P = 0.01) compared with the Control calves. The mean duration of each diarrhoea event was 2 days less for the H57 calves than the Control (P = 0.01). The H57 calves weaned 9 days earlier (P = 0.02) and were heavier at Week 19 (155 vs 139 kg, P = 0.03) than the Control calves. The only effect of H57 on rumen volatile fatty acid concentrations was an elevation in valerate at Week 12 (4.10 vs 2.47 mmol/L, P = 0.03). Plasma β-hydroxy butyrate was also elevated in the H57 calves at Week 19 (0.24 vs 0.20 mmol/L), indicating the potential of H57 to improve rumen development. H57 can be used to improve the nutritional performance and reduce the risk of diarrhoea in dairy calves as they transition from milk to dry feed.