Comparative effect of different amount of inulin and symbiotic on growth performance and blood characteristics 12 weeks old calves

A. Ilgaza and A. Arne*

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, K. Helmana street 8, LV-3004 Jelgava, Latvia
*Correspondence: astra.arne@gmail.com

Abstract:

The study was focused on assessment of the effect of prebiotic inulin (from Jerusalem artichoke (JA) powder it contain ~50% of inulin) and mixed with probiotic preparation call synbiotic thereof on growth performance and blood parameters of milk calf. In total, 70 milk calves (50+/-5 kg; 23+/-5 d.old) were used in a 57-d experiment. The seven dietary treatments consisted of the control diet (CoG); diet CoG supplemented with different amount of prebiotics (PreG6; PreG12; PreG24; accordingly 6g, 12 or 24 g of JA) and three different amount of synbiotics (SynG6; SynG12; SynG24; accordingly inulin and probiotic 0.25 g Enterococcus faecium (2×109 CFU g^-1). Throughout the study prebiotic (PreG) and synbiotic (SynG) groups calf average daily gain (ADG) was increased (p < 0.01) than CoG, the end of study the highest ADG reached PreG12 than SynG12 and it was (p < 0.01) compare with CoG. At the end of te study PreG6 and SynG6;12 hematocrit was higher (p < 0.05), but PreG12;24 and SynG24 (p < 0.01) than CoG. Hemoglobin PreG and SynG12;24 was higher (p < 0.01) compare with CoG. WBC was lower (p < 0.05) PreG24, but there were no differences between synbiotic groups (SynG) compare CoG. PLT was (p < 0.01) higher PreG and SynG supplemented groups than CoG. Total protein PreG12; SynG6;12 (p < 0.01) higher compare CoG. Glucose PreG6;12 is lower (p < 0.05) than CoG. In conclusion, 12g and 24g of JA powder and the same amount ja powder mixed with probiotic Enterococcus faecium can improve the 4 to 12 weeks old calf performance and health status. However, new synbiotic didn’t improve inulin action.

Key words:

b, calf, Enterococcus faecium, growth, inulin

The effect of synbiotic inulin and enterococcus bacteria on digestive health and weight gain in calves

A. Arne* and A. Ilgaza

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, K. Helmaņa street 8, LV-3004 Jelgava, Latvia
*Correspondence: arne.astra@gmail.com

Abstract:

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of a synbiotic containing Enterococcus bacteria and 3 different concentrations of inulin on the performance and health status of calves. Forty randomly selected healthy male Holstein crossbreed calves 23 (+/- 5) days old and weighing 50 kg (+/- 5 kg) were randomly allocated to 4 groups: control group (CoG n = 10) fed only whole milk, and 3 synbiotic supplemented groups: 1) SynG6 n = 10, 2) SynG12 n = 10, 3) SynG24 n = 10, in which calves received various amounts of prebiotic inulin (artichoke powder 6 g, 12 g, and 24 g) with 0.25 g of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium (2×10⁹ CFU g^-1). At the end of this study all three synbiotic group weight gains were significantly greater than the control group (p < 0.01). SynG12 (12 g artichoke powder) group’s weight gain was significantly greater than control and the 6 g and 24 g synbiotic groups (p < 0.05). The average cold carcass weight results were similar to the live weight results: SynG12 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than SynG6 and SynG24. Supplementing feedings with this combination of the synbiotic containing 6 g of inulin (produce in Latvia) mixed with Enterococcus (Protexin, UK) bacteria (SynG12) was most effective in achieving the greatest daily weight gain and cold carcass weight.

Key words: