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Performance evaluation of calves with diarrhea in different systems supplemented with yeast culture plus enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast cell wall
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of calves with diarrhea in different systems supplemented with yeast culture plus enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast cell wall during the neonatal period. Seventy eight females Holstein calves were divided into two groups: yeast group (Celmanax®, Vi-COR, Mason City, IA, USA), n=38, which were supplemented with 8mL/day during the first 42 days of age and a control group, n=40, that received no supplementation. The yeast was administered daily as an oral drench and measurements of weight, heart girth, withers height and rump width and average daily gain were performed weekly. The animals were also divided into two systems based on the types of facilities: houses (confined) and stakes (outdoor) and monitored daily for the occurrence of diarrhea. Data were analyzed by MIXED PROCEDURES of SAS. There was no difference (P> 0.05) in calves performance between groups and group x collection. However, there was an interaction (P < 0.05) between groups and system. Control calves maintained in the stakes system had greater (P < 0.05) heart girth than the yeast group (83.69 ± 0.58 cm and 81.65 ± 0.68 cm, respectively) and higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain (0.44 ± 0.02 kg and 0.33 ± 0.03 kg, respectively). Calves from yeast group kept in houses had higher average (P < 0.05) than the control group in the parameters withers height (81.43 ± 0.64 cm and 79.61 ± 0.54 cm), rump width (29.44 ± 0.32 cm and 28.23 ± 0.29 cm) and average daily gain (0.32 ± 0.04 kg and 0.21 ±0.02 ± kg), respectively. In conclusion, supplementation with yeast culture plus enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast cell wall can improve the growth performance of animals showing diarrhea housed in confined environments.
Keywords: Health, System, Dairy.