Effects of two kinds of probiotics on performance, blood and ruminal parameters in Holstein male calves

In recent years, determination of the effects of probiotics on health and animal performance, due to concerns about antibiotics and growth stimulants in animal feed is considered. Therefore, effects of two kinds of probiotics, as a supplement to milk, on performance, ruminal and blood parameters in Holstein male calves was investigated.
Twenty-four newborn male Holstein calves were assigned to four experimental treatments in a completely randomized design for 75 days. Treatments were included as: 1) feeding milk without any additive (control group) 2) feeding milk with 2 gr Protexin probiotic/day, 3) feeding milk with 2 gr probiotic (containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae)/day and 4) feeding milk with 1 gr Protexin 1 gr Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast/day. Feeding the colostrum was performed immediately after birth for three days. Water and calf starter were offered ad libitum. Ruminal fluid and blood samples were collected on days 30, 60 and 75. Feed intake and calves weight were measured daily and weekly respectively. Intakes of starter and weight gain were recorded daily
Feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, digestibility coefficients of nutrients, the concentration of volatile fatty acids, ruminal pH and growth parameters were affected by treatments (P In this experiment, ruminal fluid pH showed a higher stability in group that received the mixture of probiotics. Also, health status, body weight gain, digestibility coefficients of nutrients, blood and ruminal parameters were more favorable in this group. In total, consumption of two probiotics had positive effects on blood and ruminal parameters.