Influence of Feeding Fermented Colostrum and Lactobacillus acidophilus on Fecal Flora of Dairy Calves

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Abstract
Holstein calves (20) were assigned alternately at birth to diets of: fermented colostrum; colostrum treated with 1% propionic acid; whole milk or whole milk treated with L. acidophilus (frozen concentrate culture) at 5 .times. 108 organisms/l. Diets were fed once daily for 3 wk at 10% of birth weight as the sole source of nutrients. Fecal samples were collected at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of age and analyzed for coliform and lactobacilli numbers. Fermented colostrum diets did not alter coliform counts in feces of healthy calves. Fecal coliform counts of calves fed L. acidophilus decreased with time. Average fecal lactobacilli counts were lower for the colostrum diets than milk diets. The apparent lowered incidence of scours frequently reported in calves fed fermented colostrum diets was not reflected in major changes in fecal microflora under the conditions of this study.