Faecal score and dry matter content after feeding synbiotics to neonatal Jersey crossbred calves

Abstract

In order to observe the effect of synbiotic feeding to neonatal calves (treatment group) for 42 days, the fecal score ranged from 1 to 3 with weekly variation (p<0.01) among the calves. No difference was found in the fecal score and dry matter percent in both the groups control (synbiotic not fed) and treatment (synbiotic fed) calves. However, the faecal score was negatively correlated (r=-0.564, P<0.01) to the dry matter percent in faeces. Bacterial (Lactobacillus sp.) load count recovered from faeces was negatively correlated (r=-0.072) to the FS (faecal score improved) and positively correlated (r=0.012) to the DM percent in faeces. Therefore, faecal score and dry matter in faeces was better in calves fed synbiotics and Lactobacillus sp. persist (P<0.01) to be recovered from feces even after the post feeding period of synbiotics (43- 90 days).