Performance and immune response of buffalo calves supplemented with probiotic

The effect of dietary supplementation with Enterococcus faecium strain SF68 (E. faecium SF68) on growth performance, fecal consistency, in vivo digestibility and immune response in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves was evaluated at a commercial dairy location. Forty calves were randomly assigned at 10 days of age to one of four treatments: A-milk replacer with no additive, B-milk replacer supplemented with 0.17 g/L of viable (2 × l09 cfu/g) E. faecium SF68 culture for 3 consecutive d at 7 day intervals for 11 wks, C-milk replacer supplemented with E. faecium SF68 daily for 4 wks, D-milk replacer supplemented with E. faecium SF68 daily for 11 wks. A total mixed ration (TMR) was offered ad libitum from the 5th wk of the experimental period onward. Fecal scoring was conducted twice weekly, and dry matter intake (DMI) was measured weekly. Body weight was recorded every 2 wks. Phytohemagglutinin was used to perform a skin test based on non-specific delayed type hypersensitivity, whereas keyhole limpet hemocyanin was injected subcutaneously to evaluate humoral immune response. Blood samples for the evaluation of interferon-γ were collected from the jugular vein in vacuum tubes with heparin as an anticoagulant. At the end of the experimental period, nutrient in vivo digestibility was measured by using acid-insoluble ash as an internal indigestibility marker. Probiotic treated calves exhibited better fecal consistency and higher average daily gain as compared to control calves. The use of E. faecium SF68 had no effect on TMR DMI or total tract digestibility. Immune responses and interferon γ concentration were not affected by treatment. E. faecium SF68 supplementation did not dramatically change the health of animals although it favorably affected the status of the gastro-intestinal tract. Dietary supplementation of buffalo calves with E. faecium SF68, either concentrated early after birth (i.e. 4 wks), or dispersed over 11 wks (i.e. 3 consecutive days at weekly interval), allowed the effect of the probiotic to be achieved at lower cost.