Performance and Fecal Flora of Calves Fed a Nonviable Lactobacillus bulgaricus Fermentation Product

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Abstract
A nonviable L. bulgaricus fermentation product was evaluated for calves fed nonmedicated (trial 1) or medicated (trials 2 and 3) feeds. Each trial involved 40 Holstein bull calves. Trials 1 (11 wk) and 2 (9wk) examined 5 quantities (0, 3, 6, 12, 24 ml/day) and trial 3 (4 wk) 2 amounts (0 and 12 ml/day) of the liquid product. Calves were 2-8 days old when assigned to treatments and were fed milk (trial 1) or milk replacer (trials 2 and 3) twice daily for 4 wk. Pelleted starter rations were fed throughout and carried the fermentation product after weaning in trials 1 and 2. Intake of starter ration and average daily gain was greater in trial 2 for calves fed 6 ml/day of the fermentation product than for control calves. Although other differences in weight gains and starter intake in the 3 trials were not significant, the fermentation product had a positive effect on these variables, particularly during preweaning periods. Fecal Lactobacillus and coliform counts on days 0, 1, 2, and 3 of trial 1 and on days 0, 1, 4, 8, 15, 22 and 29 of trial 2 were similar between treatments. Nutrient digestibility and N utilization by calves at 8-10 wk of age were not affected.