Performance and rumen fermentation of dairy calves supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae1077 or Saccharomyces boulardii1079

To evaluate supplementation with the yeast products Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (SC) and Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-1079 (SB) on performance of calves, 24 Holstein calves (12 males, 12 females) were randomly assigned to each of 3 treatments being: C (control treatment), SC (1 g/d); or SB (1 g/d). Calves were fed whole milk (4.5 l/d) and a starter feed ad libitum from 4 d of age until weaning. Female calves were weaned at 60 d of age. Neither yeast affected body weight, body weight gain or feed efficiency, although dry matter intake was higher (P<0.01) for SC versus control calves. The incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia was similar between treatments. Ruminal ammonia N, propionate and butyrate increased with SC (P<0.05), but not with SB. Results suggest that SC modifies ruminal fermentation, but does not impact productive performance of calves.