Influences of Prebio SupportTM (Mixture of Fermented Products of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ET-3) on the Composition and Metabolic Activity of Fecal Microbiota in Calves

Abstract

The influence of Prebio Support™ (PS), which is a mixture of fermented products of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ET-3, on the fecal microbiota and fecal metabolites in calves were investigated. During the intake of PS, the number of bifidobacteria was significantly higher (p<0.05), and the fecal water content (p<0.05) and fecal ammonia (p<0.05) were significantly lower in the PS intake group than in the control group. Furthermore, fecal concentrations of sulfide tended to decrease and short-chain fatty acids (acetic, butyric, and propionic acids) tended to increase through the intake of PS. The numbers of other fecal bacteria and the fecal pH of the PS intake group did not differ from those of the control group. The fecal condition, such as hardness, in calves given PS was better than that of the control group. These findings indicate that PS intake effectively improves the fecal environment, and there is a possibility of it alleviating clinical symptoms.