Comparison of bacterial and yeast probiotics and their synergistic effect on performance of female suckling Holstein calves

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Protexin (7 strains of different bacteria plus 2 strains of fungi, totally 2×109 CFU/g), Probio-Sacc (Saccharomyces cerevisiae MUCL/BCCM 39885, 1.5×1010 CFU/g) and their synergistic effects on performance and blood metabolite of suckling female calves.Sixteen newborn female calves were used in a completely randomized design and each 4 calves randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 1) control (with no probiotic);2) 1g Protexin; 3) 2g Probio-Sacc;4) 1g Protexin plus 2 g Probio-Sacc. Probiotics mixed into milk replacer and fed from 3 days to 70 days after birth. Body weight, growth measurements, Starter intake and fecal score were evaluated weekly. Starter intake and body weights on fourth and fifth weeks of age were higher (P ≤ 0.05)for Probio- Sacc and Protexin plus Probio-Sacc groups. Three and one cases of diarrhea were observes in group 1 and 2, respectively.Probiotics were effective in group 3 and 4 during 40 days after birth. Reducing their effectiveness after this time can be related to method of probiotic feeding and change their site of effect simultaneously with rumen development.