Influence of selected feed supplements on the growth and health of calves depending on the sex, season of birth, and number of the dam’s lactations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to prove the hypothesis that the growth and health of calves are dependent on feed supplements with an antidiarrhoeic effect, in relation to sex, season of birth, and number of the dam's lactations. A total of 186 calves were included in the experiment. After birth the calves were divided into three treatment groups: Ascophyllum nodosum (brown seaweed hydrolyzate, prebiotics), Lactobacillus sporogenes (probiotics), and the control group. All calves were weighed within two h after birth. The growth and health were investigated from the birth to the fourth week of age. Compared to the control, a significant effect of applied feed supplements was found in the Lactobacillus sporogenes group in the body weight at 28 days of life (P < 0.01) and in the average daily gains (P < 0.001). Differences between sexes were found in the body weight at birth (P < 0.001) and in the body weight at 28 days of life (P < 0.01). The effect of the season of birth was recorded in the average daily gains (P < 0.01). The effect of the number of the dam's lactations on calf was proved in body weights at birth and 28 days of life (P < 0.01). The interaction between treatment and sex (P < 0.05), and between treatment and season of birth (P < 0.01) were calculated in the average daily gains. We concluded from the analysis that only the use of Lactobacillus sporogenes had a positive influence on increasing the growth. Neither of the two supplements had a positive impact on the health of calves.

A study on Calf’s Behavior and Growth Performance in Relation to Gestation Period and Lactation Season

“…The age of weaning was higher in primiparous dams than other groups, but the differences did not reach the significance. The decrease of birth weight in primiparous cows reflected increase the age of weaning, as shown Zábranský et al (2015) who cited that calves from primiparous dams showed significantly lower live body weights at birth, also at the last weighing on day 28 compared to calves from older cows. The growth rate, as shown in table (6) was significantly affected by lactation season, where it was the highest in 2 nd season (Dhakal et al, 2013).…”

“…Calves received fresh colostrum collected from their dam as soon as possible after birth (within 1 hour) with an average amount of 2 liters then increased to 8 liters within the first 24 hours. Calves fed milk ad libitum by artificial teat with a plastic bottle that was fitted in front of the hutches at a height of 40 cm above the ground during the experimental period (Zábranský et al, 2015). All calves are fed whole milk mixed with non-saleable milk after pasteurization.…”

Tribulus terrestris L. - a review

“…Zdravý střevní mikrobiom zajišťuje optimální trávení a efektivní vstřebávání živin, čímž podporuje růst a zlepšuje účinnost krmiva u hospodářských zvířat (Kumar et al, 2016;Ugbogu et al, 2019). To je dnes řešeno používáním probiotik ke zlepšení růstové výkonosti zvířat, což se jeví jako úspěšné (Zábranský et al, 2015;Zábranský et al, 2021).…”

The effect of exterior traits on milk production and calving ease in Czech Fleckvieh cows in first parity

“…Calving ease is often analyzed in cattle in relation to other important parameters. For example, the mother's nutritional status and body condition score also influence calving ease (Zabransky et al, 2015). Calving ease is mentioned very often in beef breeds of cattle; for example, a study on the Belgian Blue breed looked at the internal dimensions of the pelvis and their influence on the difficulty of calving (Coopman et al, 2003).…”