Effects of a commercial feed additive used for prophylactic purposes on health and blood parameters in neonatal calves.

Objective: Neonatal calf diarrhea is commonly observed worldwide and leads to significant economic losses. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a feed additive supplemented with milk on the incidence of diarrhea days with scours, fecal score, average daily gain, fecal bacterial concentration, and blood parameters in neonatal calves.

Materials and methods: Forty Holstein-Friesian crossbreed (HF x Montbeliarde) calves were divided into control (C) and experimental (E) groups, each containing 20 calves. The study was conducted over a period of 10 days. The control group was fed whole milk twice daily. The experimental group was fed the same whole milk supplemented with feed additive once in the morning at 100 g/calf/day.

Results: At the end of the study, it was determined that the feed additive in the milk affected fecal score, blood pH, pCO₂, cHCO₃ ^-, K⁺, cHgb, and plasma glucose levels (p<0.05), but did not affect the incidence of diarrhea, average daily gain, days with scours, and other blood parameters (p>0.05). Rotavirus was the main pathogen found in the fecal samples of calves with diarrhea. Higher concentrations of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Clostridium perfringens were detected in the feces of experimental calves (p<0.001).

Conclusion and clinical relevance: The findings indicate that this feed additive improves fecal score, some blood parameters, and fecal concentration of pathogenic bacteria in feces. Additionally, it shows a favorable effect on both diarrhea incidence and the days with scours, suggesting its potential efficacy in preventing diarrhea in neonatal calves. Preventing diarrhea during this crucial stage of life can contribute to the health and productivity of animals and play a role in preventing antibiotic resistance by reducing reliance on antibiotics.