Optimizing synbiotic formulations with Ligilactobacillus salivarius BF17 for enhanced gut health in Murrah buffalo calves

This study was performed to optimize synbiotic formulations with Ligilactobacillus salivarius BF17 for augmenting gut health in Murrah buffalo calves. Prebiotic utilization, acidification profiles, prebiotic indices (PIs) and prebiotic activity scores (PAS) were performed to screen various prebiotics. The findings revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in prebiotic utilization by probiotic bacteria. The fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin performed better in terms of acidification and growth than did mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), corn dextrin (CD) and wheat dextrin (WD). Furthermore, PI and PAS were highest for inulin. Hence, inulin was selected for the synbiotic formulation. Twenty-three neonatal Murrah buffalo calves (90 days experimental period) were randomly divided into four dietary groups; control (CON): basal diet alone; prebiotic (PRE): basal diet with chicory root powder (natural source of inulin, @ 8 g/d • calf); probiotic (PRO): basal diet with milk fermented with Lg. salivarius BF17 @10⁸ colony forming units (CFU)/g/d • calf and synbiotic (SYN): basal diet with both prebiotic and probiotic. The final BW (kg) of the buffalo calves was higher (P<0.05) in the SYN group (74.93 ± 0.56), followed by PRE (71.26 ± 0.97), and PRO (72.25 ± 0.53) groups compared to control (68.04 ± 0.77). Feed conversion efficiency was significantly (P<0.05) increased in all the supplemented groups (0.423 ± 0.008 in PRE; 0.428 ± 0.007 in PRO and 0.438 ± 0.010 in SYN) compared to CON (0.396 ± 0.003). Structural growth measurements also revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) among the calves in the supplemented groups compared to control group. Nevertheless, in the SYN and PRO groups, there was a simultaneous increase (P < 0.05) in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium populations, coupled with a decrease in the coliform population. The average faecal score was decreased (P < 0.05) in all the treatment groups (1.72 ± 0.22 in PRE; 1.71 ± 0.20 in PRO and 1.62 ± 0.21 in SYN) as compared to CON group (1.97 ± 0.25). Compared with those in the control group, the fecal biomarkers in all supplemented groups were favorable. Overall, inulin was more effective in optimized synbiotic formulation with Lg. salivarius BF17. Moreover, supplementation with prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic improved growth and gut health in Murrah buffalo calves, with the SYN group yielding superior effects.