Effects of a mixture of lactic acid bacteria applied as a freeze dried or fresh culture on growth performance, blood metabolite and ruminal fermentation parameters of young dairy calves

In order to evaluate the effects of using mixture of probiotic bacteria applied as a freeze dried or fresh culture on feed intake, weight gain, structural growth measurement and health, and blood metabolites, twenty four female Holstein calves were used in a completely randomized design. Calves after birth were randomly assigned into one of three treatments as follow: 1) control (without any additive), 2) calves received probiotic as a fresh culture and 3) calves received probiotic as freeze dried. Determination of starter intake and fecal scoring were done daily, and weighing and Structural growth measurements were recorded weekly. Blood samples were taken at the age of 25, 50 and 70 days old. Rumen fluid was collected 4 hours after morning feeding on 30, 60 and 70 days. The results showed that there were no differences among treatments on average weaning age and structural growth indices (p>0.05). Neither fresh culture probiotic nor freeze dried probiotic had effect on initial, final and weaning weight (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between treatments in terms of pH and ammoniacal nitrogen concentration (p>0.05). Freeze dried or fresh culture of probiotic had no significant effect (p>0.05) on blod metabolites (glucose, triglyserid, total protein, β_Hydroxybutyrate and albumin). Totally, the loss of predictable response resulted using of powder and liquid probioticson weaning calves performance can be attributed to good managerial and sanitary condition in weaning calves.