Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae addition to whole milk or milk replacer on holstein calves performance pre and postweaning

Author(s)

Paula Marques Meyer

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2000-04-25
• Advisor: Alexandre Vaz Pires

Abstract

Seventy nme newbom Holtein calves were used to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae addition to whole milk or milk replacer. Forty four males and 35 females were assigned at birth to a completely randomized design with a 3X2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were: 1- whole milk: milk replacer at 3 days of age: milk replacer at 15 days of age; 2- probiotic supplemented vs. non supplemented. Birth weight and birth date were used as covariates and sex as a restriction factor. The animals remained on trial until 15 days after weaning. Starter and water were offered "ad libitum" from the first day of age. Calves and starter orts were weighed weekly. Whole milk was sampled daily and starter and milk replacer weekly. The objective of the present trial was to evaluate the effects of probiotic addition to different liquid diets. Probiotic supplementation to calves fed milk replacer at 3 days of age improved preweaning daily body gain and feed conversion, and postweaning feed conversion. The milk replacer fed calves had higher starter intake, but lower dry matter intake and the lowest weight at weaning. However, milk replacer fed calves consumed less starter compared to whole milk fed calves. When milk replacer was started at 3 days, calves had higher starter intake, lower weight at weaning, less diarrhea preweaning and greater fecal consistency pre and postweaning than when milk replacer was started at 15 days. Weight at weaning, post weaning daily body gain and weight at the end of trial, as well as, mortality rate were not affected by probiotic supplementation and liquid diet. (AU)