Indian Journal Of Animal Research, cilt.53, sa.5, ss.644-647, 2019 (SCI-Expanded)
The present study was conducted to assess the effects of pre-weaning probiotic treatments on growth performance of male
Holstein calves. For experimental treatments, 20 male calves were divided into 2 groups as of control and treatment group.
Control group calves were supplied with fresh milk daily in two meals without any growth promoting supplement. Together
with fresh milk supply, treatment group calves were supplied with additional 2 g probiotics to their morning meal. Throughout
56-day milk-feeding period, live weights (LW) and feed consumptions (FC) of the calves were determined. As compared
to the control group, probiotic-supplemented calves had 5.25% higher weaning live weight and 11.4% higher daily live
weight gain (P<0.05). Probiotic-supplemented calves consumed 2% more feed than the control calves (P>0.05) and had
9.52% better feed conversion ratio than the control group calves (P<0.05). Probiotic supplementation did not affect blood
biochemical parameters significantly (P<0.05), except ALT, triglyceride and iron levels (P<0.05). It was concluded that
probiotic supplementation during milk-feeding period improved growth performance of experimental Holstein calves.