This study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation on the effects of garlic supplementation on average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and fecal score (FS) of dairy calves through a meta-analysis of the available research data. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review, out of 42 studies identified. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that garlic administration significantly improved the ADG in dairy calves (P 0.01). Moreover, feed intake was significantly greater in calves supplemented with garlic than in those from the control group (P 0.01). Although garlic supplementation resulted in higher FCR, the difference between groups was not statistically significant, probably due to significant differences between the included studies. The meta-analysis also revealed that garlic administration led to a significant decrease in FSs of calves (P 0.05), indicating a positive effect on intestinal health and gut microbiota. These findings suggest that garlic may play a critical role in promoting growth in dairy calves, as it positively influences both ADG and feed consumption. Additionally, reductions in FSs point to garlic's potential to support digestive health. The results indicate that garlic may be a viable natural option to support the health and performance of dairy calves in place of antibiotics.
EKİNCİ et al. (Fri,) studied this question.