Cw. Cruywagen et al., EFFECT OF LACTOBACILLUS-ACIDOPHILUS SUPPLEMENTATION OF MILK REPLACER ON PREWEANING PERFORMANCE OF CALVES, Journal of dairy science, 79(3), 1996, pp. 483-486
Forty Holstein-Friesian calves were used to evaluate the effect on you
ng calves of daily dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophi
lus. Calves were randomly assigned at 2 d of age to one of two treatme
nts; 1) milk replacer with no additives or 2) milk replacer supplement
ed with 1 mi (5 x 10(7)) of viable L. acidophilus bacteria at each of
two feedings per day. Milk replacer was reconstituted to 12% DM and fe
d at 10% of BW/d for the duration of the 6-wk trial. A commercial star
ter pellet was offered for ad libitum intake from 7 d of age. Treatmen
t had no effect on actual BW at any stage or on total BW gain; however
, average daily gain during wk 2 was affected by L. acidophilus supple
mentation. Calves receiving L. acidophilus maintained initial BW, and
the control calves lost BW until 2 wk of age, at an average rate of 11
2 g/d. Starter intake, total DMI, feed efficiency, and occurrence of d
iarrhea were unaffected by treatment. Therefore, L. acidophilus supple
mentation for calves fed milk replacer may be beneficial during the fi
rst 2 wk of life.