The Effects of a Medical Plant Mixture and a Probiotic on Performance, Antioxidant Activity and Weaning Age of Newborn Holstein Calves
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a medical plant mixture and a probiotic on performance, antioxidant activity and weaning age of suckling Holstein calves. For this experiment, 30 newborn calves (0 10 days of age) with an average birth weight of 42 8 kg were used in a factorial design (3x2) with 6 treatments and 5 replicates. Treatments were: 1) basal diet including a calves starter feed and whole m ilk, 2) control diet 2 g probiotic 3) control diet 1.5% of medical plant, 4) control diet 1.5% medical plant 2 g probiotic, 5) control diet 3% medical plant and 6) control diet 3% medical plant 2 g probiotic. The calves were offered experimental pelleted feeds ad libitum and after one month were supplied with imported hay. Results showed that the treatments had no significant effect on dry matter intake during the experiment. However, addition of the 1.5% medical plant increased dry matter intake (P<0.05) However, the 1.5% level of medical plant reduced calves weaning age (P<0.05) Calves receiving control diet 1.5% of medical plant mixed and 1.5% medical plant mixed 2 g probiotic showed a higher plasma antioxidant activity (P<0.05) This study suggested that 1.5% of medical plant in calves starter feed will improve performance and the immune system and will also reduce the weaning age of calves.