Specie-specific probiotic supplement in veal calves diet : effects on zootechnical and microbial parameters in standard rearing conditions

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of a specie-specific probiotic supplement to veal calves on performance and microbial parameters in standard rearing conditions (SRC). Ninety-six male Friesian veal calves (49.31 ± 1.38kg) were divided in two homogeneous groups of 48 animals each from the arrival in the farm and fed either a basal diet (C) or a basal diet plus 1.8x1010 CFU/head/day of a probiotic supplement containingB. coagulans, L. animalis and L. paracasei spp. paracasei in a 35:30:35 ratio (T) for a total of 180 days. Performance and microbial parameters were analyzed by a MIXED procedure of SAS (2006), while dressing percentage was evaluated by a GLM (SAS, 2006). Average daily gain (1.19 vs 1.21 kg/d respectively for T and C) and dressing percentage (55.69 vs 55.75%) were not different among groups. pH at 45 min and 48 hours post mortem were similar for C and T; no significant differences were detected between T and C groups for faecal microbiological parameters in whole experimental period, but Lactobacilli content increased on month 4 in T calves (8.87 Log10/g vs 8.35 Log10/g, P≤0.10) when antibiotic treatments were not performed; also faecal score was found to be better in the same period in T than C. The General Health Score was higher in T than C after the second month and it showed, on month 6, a significant difference. In SRC the administration of a species-specific probiotic supplement did not influence growth performance, but positive changes of treated animals health must be further investigated.