The target of the research was to analyze the effect of antidiarrheal feed additives on calves average daily weight gain. In the study, 120 calves were analyzed. Newborns were selected into 3 treatment groups, control (without supplementation) and group with Ascophyllum nodosum (prebiotics), and mixture of Lactobacillus sporogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Bifidobacterium bifidum (probiotics). Individual body weight of animal were determined after 2 hours postpartum. Monitoring of the growth intensity, as well as health status were done till 56 days of age. Significant effects (P<0.01) of additive supplementation were found in the group with probiotics, in body weight at the age 21 days, as well as at the age of 56 days of life. Significant effect (P<0.01) of probiotics supplementation was found also in daily weight gains of animals. On the base of analyzed results, probiotics in calves nutrition stimulate the body weight.

Considering automatized and robotic milking systems substantially decreasing the contact between producers and the herd, milk analysis is crucial to maintain the quality and safety of all dairy products. These systems naturally also decrease the possibility of health problems and illness identification. Abnormalities in milk can be caused by several factors. Milk quality can be affected by external conditions, such as temperature and contamination in the feedstock; by management practices, such as hygiene, milking frequency, treatment, and feedstuff quality; and by diseases, genetics, or age. Somatic cell count, electric conductivity, and contents of urea, fat, protein, and lactose were reviewed as likely parameters of milk representing its quality with respect to feedback for consumers and breeders. Methods for evaluating milk constituents and parameters are still being developed to provide in-line information. These methods allow the avoidance of enormous economic losses every year caused by milk discard, health treatments, or cow replacements. In addition, individual and in-line milk analysis provides information in terms of nutritional status or lactation period and fertility. The objective of this study is to identify trends and potential methods focusing on in situ and in-line techniques for the analysis of milk parameters during the automatized and robotic milking process. Four methods are described and compared: near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS), optical analysis, milk conductivity analysis, and milk leukocyte differential test. The versatility and accessibility of these methods were also evaluated, showing a considerable range of possible related problems.

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Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Probiotics and prebiotics are effective to modulate optimal conditions in gastrointestinal tract inhabited by diverse microbial population. Probiotics regulate and modulate gut microbial population thus reducing the risk of diarrhea. Positive effect on growth is confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic (Lactobacillus sporogenes) and prebiotic (Ascophyllum nodosum) supplements on weight gain in calves. Forty newborn Holstein calves were randomised to control and experimental group. In the experimental group, Lactobacillus sporogenes and Ascophyllum nodosum were added first to colostrum and then to milk replacer, calves in the control group were fed with colostrum and milk replacer only. The weight gains of animals were found out during the whole experiment. Evidence of animal health and diarrhea was monitored. In the end of experiment, the body weight gains in experimental calves were by 14.4% higher compared to control but without statistical significance (P >0.05). Probiotic and prebiotic treatment tended to diminish diarrhea. The health benefits of monitored treatment were noticed in experimental group.

The aim of this study was to monitor the effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum (BB) and the combination of Lactobacillus sporogenes, Enterococcus faecium, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (LEB) on the health status and weight gain of calves, and the utilisation of nitrogenous substances. The experiment was performed in the period from April 2020 to September 2020. A total of 90 Holstein heifers, which were one to 56 days old, were used as experimental animals. Differences in live weight gain were significant if we compared the LEB vs BB group and the LEB vs C, the control group (86.23 ± 5.49 kg vs. 84.72 ± 6.22 kg, p <0.05; 86.23 ± 5.49kg vs. 82.86 ± 5.35 kg, p < 0.01). Considering the live weight gain, group BB was heavier than group C only (84.72 ± 6.22 kg vs. 82.86 ± 5.35 kg, p <0.05). An effect on reducing the incidence and duration of diarrheal diseases was not demonstrated in this study (p = 0.1957). The administration of feed additives had no statistically significant effect on the amount of N excreted in the feces. The values of hematological and biochemical parameters were unaffected except for the first sampling of urea. Other blood parameters were not affected by the addition of probiotic feed additives. The bacterial populations in the feces 5 days and 56 days after birth were not affected by the inclusion of feed additives.