Efeito sobre a composição do colostro, saúde e desempenho zootécnico de bezerras nascidas de vacas suplementados com probiótico no pré-parto.

Abstract

Proper nutrition for breeding females is crucial for dairy production systems, as it significantly influences the performance of their offspring. The aim of this study was to analyze whether supplementation with a commercial probiotic based on Bacillus, administered pre-partum, could improve the health parameters and zootechnical performance of Holstein cow offspring. For this purpose, 60 cows were used, and based on inclusion criteria (brix higher than 22%, etc., etc.), 29 calves (16 in the control group and 13 in the treatment group) were included in the study. These calves were randomly separated from their mothers and allocated into control and treatment groups, born to cows receiving a balanced diet, with the treatment group supplemented with 3 grams of a commercial probiotic composed of Bacillus strains: Subtillis and Licheniformis. The calves were monitored from day 0 to 75 of life, staying in individual pens until 15 days after birth, where they received 9.2 liters of milk/day. After this period, they were housed in a collective system, where they stayed from 15 to 75 days of age with water and concentrate ad libitum. To ensure balance between the groups, two fundamental parameters were established: colostrum quality above 22% on the brix scale and colostrum quantity provided equal to or greater than 10% of the calf's body weight. The results showed no difference between the groups in birth weight and average daily gain (ADG) during the experimental period. However, higher average levels of protein in colostrum were found in the treatment group, as well as higher average levels of fat in the control group. For non-fat solids (NFS), the highest average was found in the treatment group. Regarding diseases, the incidence averages of diarrhea and bronchopneumonia did not differ between the groups, with a lower average fecal score observed in the treatment group. The results allow us to conclude that under the experimental conditions used, supplementation with the association of Bacillus, although it increased the protein and NFS levels of colostrum, did not influence the ADG of calves or disease incidence.