Effects of bacterial inoculants in milk on the performance of intensively reared calves

SOTO, L.P.; ZBRUN, M.V.; FRIZZO, L.S.; SIGNORINI, M.L.; SEQUEIRA, G.J.; ROSMINI, M.R.

ANIMAL FEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 189 p. 117 - 122

0377-8401

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics on the feed intake, bodyweight gain (BWG), feed efficiency (FE) and fecal microbiota of intensively reared calvesfed milk inoculated with probiotic bacteria in a computerized milk feeder system. ThirtyHolstein calves were allocated into three groups: group A, supplemented with an inoculumcomprising Lactobacillus casei DSPV 318T, Lactobacillus salivarius DSPV 315T and Pediococcusacidilactici DSPV 006T; group B, supplemented with an inoculum comprising Lactobacillusplantarum DSPV 354T; and group C, control without probiotics. The calves were examinedfor 21 days. Inocula were added to the tank milk, and the daily dose for each calf wasapproximately 10 log CFU. The total Lactobacillus, inoculum strains, coliforms, yeast andenterococci in the stool and the total Lactobacillus, inoculum strains and pH in the tank milkwere determined weekly. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in groups A and B produced enoughacid to bring the milk to a pH lower (P < 0.05) than that of the control milk. Fermentationincreased the shelf life of the milk, thereby avoiding the need to frequently discard the milkand reducing the costs for the use of the computerized milk feeder system. The probiotics-stimulated milk intake (P < 0.05) was compared with that of the control group. L. casei DSPV318T, L. salivarius DSPV 315T, P. acidilactici DSPV 006T and L. plantarum DSPV 354T werepresent in the gastrointestinal tracts of the calves in the probiotics groups. In addition, theLactobacillus/coliform ratio was greater than 1 in the probiotics groups and lower than 1 inthe control group. BWG and FE were higher for group B than for group C. The presence of L.plantarum DSPV 354T and its dominance over coliforms in the fecal microbiota might havepositive effects on the growth performance of calves.