To reduce greenhouse gas emission (GGE) researchers propose to shorten the period of breeding calves of dairy breeds (Mirzaei-Aghsaghali et al., 2015, Fao, 2010. However, producers try to prolong the time of rising animals in order to get more valuable production. The aim of this research was to determine the impact of different dosages of inulin concentrate (50%) produced in Latvia by using special technologies on calves' health, amount of obtained production and to evaluate possible reduction of GGE. Research has been supported by the National research programme AgroBioRes (2014AgroBioRes ( -2017.Four week old clinically healthy Holstein Friesian calves which were kept in barn in individual cages were included in this research. Ten were in control group (CoG) and thirty were fed with additional flour supplement (groups: Pre6 (n=10), Pre12 (n=10), Pre24 (n=10)) until the groups' median weight was above 90kg. We found out that inulin supplement reduced the cases of diarrhoea especially in Pre12 (P=95%) less than in CoG. Also, the overall health condition in Pre12 was the most stable. The best rate of live weight showed calves from Pre12 and Pre24, the desired weight was exceeded on 42 nd test day (median increase rate respectively 0.85 kg/day and 0.95 kg/day). Pre6 reached that goal on day 56 (0.76 kg/day), CoG only on 70 (0.55 kg/day). Conclusion: the optimal dose of that supplement for speeding up the growth rate is 12g which can stabilize the health and reduce breeding time. Besides shortening breeding time minimum to 3 weeks (i.e. 17%), GGE can be reduced too.

The study aim was to determine prebiotic (inulin) and new synbiotic (inulin and Enterococcus faecium) varied dosage effects, during food breakdown-abomasum immunoreactive (IR) cell amount and cold carcass weight. Ghrelin is synthesized in the fundus region of the stomach. In the gastrointestinal system, ghrelin affects multiple functions, including secretion of gastric acid, gastric motility, and pancreatic protein output. The study consisted of 49 Holstein male calves (23 ± 5 days old, 50 ± 5 kg). Control and experimental groups were differentiated only with the additive amount added to the morning food source. Three prebiotic groups were fed Jerusalem artichoke flour (inulin content increased by 50%) in three amounts: 6 g (lowest) PreG6, 12 g (medium) PreG12, and 24 g (highest) PreG24. Three synbiotic groups were added 0.25 g of prebiotic Enterococcus faecium (2 ∗ 109 CFU/g) to the respective prebiotic, obtaining a new synbiotic (SynG6, SynG12, and SynG24). Calves were slaughtered after 56 days to obtain abomasum samples for ghrelin IR cell examination, and carcass weight was determined. It shows that ghrelin IR cell count in the abomasum was ( p < 0.05 ) reduced in 6g and 12g inulin dosage, but carcass weight was significantly ( p < 0.05 ) higher for PreG12 and PreG24 ( p < 0.05 ) and then for CoG (CoG 42.6 kg; PreG12 51.4 kg; and PreG24 54.0 kg) and ( p < 0.05 ) for SynG12 and SynG24 (SynG12 52.3 kg and SynG24 49.6 kg), which indicates longer satiety and more wholesome breakdown of the food uptake. It was concluded that ghrelin IR cells in 12-week-old calves are more abundant in the fundus region. Medium- and high-dosage prebiotic inulin feeding to the calves improves overall food digestion, allowing for longer satiety and higher cold carcass weight without increasing food amount. Adding synbiotic 0.25 g Enterococcus faecium (2 ∗ 109 CFU/g (Protexin, UK)) to inulin (produced in Latvia LTD „Herbe”) does not improve the results of this prebiotic.

Background and Aim: Europe and the USA have banned antibiotics use as growth promoters. There is a need for alternative products that can ensure production and health protection. Prebiotics has been proposed as alternatives because these materials have wide-ranging physiological effects on gut function, activity of the large intestinal microflora, mineral absorption, and immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of three different doses of inulin, a prebiotic, in combination with probiotic Enterococcus faecium (a new synbiotic) on postnatal rumen development by comparing rumen papilla length, width, muscle layer thickness, and content pH level. Materials and Methods: Randomly selected 23 (±5)-days-old healthy male Holstein crossbreed calves, weighing 50 kg (±5 kg), were randomly allocated to seven groups, ten in each group. The calves were kept in a pen of 5, under the same conditions and were fed twice a day, ∼3.5 liters of whole milk per feeding. Control group (C n=10) was fed with whole milk only (no additives were added). The six other groups (three prebiotics and three synbiotics) received food additives with their morning milk feeding. The source of prebiotics, Jerusalem artichoke powder concentrate (JAPC) contained 50% of inulin. JAPC in doses of 6 g, 12 g, or 24 g were added to the milk. Formed prebiotic groups were denoted as PreG6, PreG12, and PreG24. To evaluate if the addition of the probiotic E. faecium 2×109 colony forming unit g–1 to manufacturer recommended dose of 0.25 g improves inulin effect on rumen, it was added to all their JAPC doses. The new content synbiotic groups were denoted as SynG6, SynG12, and SynG24. On day 57 of the study, when all calves were approximately 12 weeks old, they were slaughtered in a certified slaughterhouse. Tissue cultures for histological analysis were obtained from Saccus dorsalis and Saccus ventralis of the rumen. Tissue culture staining for histology was carried out using hematoxylin and eosin staining method. Rumen histological samples were used to measure papilla length, width, and muscle layer thickness. Each sample was used to make five measurements on the present rumen papilla. Results: The results showed that by adding 12 g of inulin to whole milk when feeding calves improves rumen papilla development, which is seen by increased length and width of papilla, especially in the Saccus ventralis region. By combing this dose of inulin with 0.25 g of E. faecium, a significant increase of papilla is achieved. Saccus ventralis muscle layer in the rumen is thicker than it is in Saccus dorsalis regardless of addition of prebiotics or synbiotics. Conclusion: The addition of inulin to whole milk can influence the pH of the rumen by making it more alkaline. The addition of prebiotic inulin and a novel synbiotic (inulin combined with E. faecium) can accelerate postnatal rumen development and improve its functionality.

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