Evaluation of Lactobacillus Fermentation Cultures in Calf Feeding Systems

Direct-fed microbials for calves were evaluated at two commercial dairy locations. Trial 1 (9 wk) compared nonviable Lactobacillus acidophilus (6 ml) with untreated controls. Holstein calves (n = 116) were assigned randomly to treatment within 24 h of birth. In trial 2 (5 wk), 75 Holstein calves were assigned at 1 d of age to one of three treatments: I) control with no additives, 2) I g of a microbial mixture containing viable L. acidophilus and Streptococcus faecium, or 3) 6 ml of nonviable L. acidophilus. In both trials, microbial additives were mixed with a combination of milk replacer and waste milk during the a.m. feeding. Calves were fed milk once daily in trial 1 and twice daily in trial 2. No differences were detected for average daily gain in trial 1. Although not significant, calves fed viable and nonviable microbial products in trial 2 tended to have higher gains in early stages of growth. Starter intake was higher for the nonviable fermentation product group than for controls at 29 to 33 d of age. Fecal coliform, lactobacilli, and streptococci counts on d 0, 7, 14, and 28 of trial 2 were similar among treatments.