The effects of a medical plant mix and probiotic on performance and health status of suckling Holstein calves

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of a medical plant mixture and probiotic on performance, blood parameters, digestibility of some nutrients, and health status of suckling Holstein calves. Thirty newborn calves (1–10 days) with 42 ± 8 kg of average birth weight were used in a factorial arrangement (3 × 2) with 6 treatments and 5 replicate. The treatments were: (1) control diet, (2) control diet +2g probiotic per day, (3) control diet + 1.5% medical plant, (4) control diet +1.5% medical plant +2g probiotic per day, (5) control diet + 3% medical plant and (6) control diet +3% medical plant +2g probiotic per day. During first month, experimental factors have no effect on starter and hay intake, whereas total DMI was affected by herbal (H) effect in second month (p < .01). Calves fed on H1.5 diet had the highest starter and total DMI and calves fed on PH3 diet had the lowest value. Daily weight gain (DWG) was affected significantly by H (p < .01) whereas no effect from P was observed. Treatments had no significant effect on blood glucose, cholesterol and albumin content, whereas addition of H1.5 in starter feed increased beta-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA) concentration in comparison to other groups (p < .05). In conclusion and based on better growth performance, it is recommended to feed H1.5 to milk suckling calves and feeding herbal additives with probiotic is not recommended