Influence of selected feed supplements on the growth and health of calves depending on the sex, season of birth, and number of the dam’s lactations

The aim of this study was to prove the hypothesis that the growth and health of calves are dependent on feed supplements with an antidiarrhoeic effect, in relation to sex, season of birth, and number of the dam's lactations. A total of 186 calves were included in the experiment. After birth the calves were divided into three treatment groups: Ascophyllum nodosum (brown seaweed hydrolyzate, prebiotics), Lactobacillus sporogenes (probiotics), and the control group. All calves were weighed within two h after birth. The growth and health were investigated from the birth to the fourth week of age. Compared to the control, a significant effect of applied feed supplements was found in the Lactobacillus sporogenes group in the body weight at 28 days of life (P < 0.01) and in the average daily gains (P < 0.001). Differences between sexes were found in the body weight at birth (P < 0.001) and in the body weight at 28 days of life (P < 0.01). The effect of the season of birth was recorded in the average daily gains (P < 0.01). The effect of the number of the dam's lactations on calf was proved in body weights at birth and 28 days of life (P < 0.01). The interaction between treatment and sex (P < 0.05), and between treatment and season of birth (P < 0.01) were calculated in the average daily gains. We concluded from the analysis that only the use of Lactobacillus sporogenes had a positive influence on increasing the growth. Neither of the two supplements had a positive impact on the health of calves.