Effect of a milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria on diarrheal incidence, growth performance, microbiological and blood profiles of newborn calves in a dairy farm

MALDONADO NC; CHIARAVIGLIO JM; BRU E; DE CHAZAL J; SANTOS V; NADER -MACÍAS ME

The Veterinary Journal

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015

1090-0233

In this work, the effect of fermented milk with lactic acid bacteria administrated to calves was evaluated. Lactobacillus strains included were: Lactobacillus murinus CRL1695, L. mucosae CRL1696, L. johnsonii CRL1693, and L. salivarius CRL1702, all selected for their beneficial and functional properties and isolated from healthy calves in the Northeast region of Argentine. The animal´s protocol was applied on a dairy farm located in Tucumán (Holando-Argentina calves). Fifty eight new-born animals were divided in two groups: the treated group (TG) received the fermented milk for 60 days life and the control group (CG). The animals were fed ad libitum with the same diet excepted for the probiotic. Doses of 1x109CFU were daily administered to calf. Body weight and biometrical parameters were recorded between 15-30 days life, the average daily gain was calculated. Also, rectal swabs, fecal and blood samples were collected. Results have shown the efficacy of the product: lower morbidity and mortality of the calves (diarrhea morbidity was 64.5% in animals without probiotic and 44.4% treated with probiotics). The animals fed with the ferment milk evidenced an improvement of nutritional parameters, body condition and weight gain. Viable bacterial numbers did not show differences between the two experimental groups. Hematological parameters as hematocrit, hemoglobin and white blood counts did not modified with the probiotics. Finally, serum proteins decreased in animal that were treated with the probiotic in younger animals. The results suggest that the fermented milk containing lactic acid bacteria can be proposed as a multi-strain veterinary product for young calves.