Immunoglobulin response and growth performance of new born Holstein calves fed Garlic (Allium savitum) powder and probiotics as feed additives

Abstract

Garlic, Allium sativum, contains secondary metabolites which promote proper immunity by stimulating the level of immunoglobulin (lg) and the efficiency of rumen function. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of feeding Garlic powder or Probiotics or a combination of both on level of lgG and growth performance of Holstein calves. The calves were randomly allocated, according to birth weight, to four dietary treatments, each with 8 calves. The treatments were: control, no additive (C); supplemented with either 5g/d Garlic powder (G) or 4 g/d Probiotics (P) alone or a combination of 5g/d Garlic powder and 4 g/d Probiotics (GP) with the total viable count of 1.3 x 107 cfu/g. Garlic and Probiotics were diluted in the daily milk allocation from day 4. Commercial starter feed (17.5% CP) and fresh water was available ad libitum from day 4 until day 42 of age. Calves fed G and GP had higher (P<0.05) lgG than C and P calves. Calves fed GP tended (P = 0.056) to have higher final BW compared to C (60.3 kg vs. 56.0 kg). Garlic, Probiotics or their combination did not affect (P>0.05) calves' serum glucose, heart girth (HG), average daily gain (ADG) and body length (BL). Calves in GP and P groups had lower (P<0.05) faecal score than control and garlic. The results of the current study revealed complementary effects of Garlic and Probiotics due to improved nutrients intake, body weight, and serum lgG level and reduced diarrheal incidences when fed to calves during the first 42 days of life.