The effects of a medical plant mix and probiotic on performance and health status of suckling Holstein calves

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of a medical plant mixture and probiotic on performance, blood parameters, digestibility of some nutrients, and health status of suckling Holstein calves. Thirty newborn calves (1–10 days) with 42 ± 8 kg of average birth weight were used in a factorial arrangement (3×2) with 6 treatments and 5 replicate. The treatments were: (1) control diet, (2) control diet +2g probiotic per day, (3) control diet +1.5% medical plant, (4) control diet +1.5% medical plant +2g probiotic per day, (5) control diet+3% medical plant and (6) control diet +3% medical plant +2g probiotic per day. During first month, experimental factors have no effect on starter and hay intake, whereas total DMI was affected by herbal (H) effect in second month (p