Vol. 8, Issue 3 (2019)

Author(s):
Praveen Ratre, Rana Ranjeet Singh, Sandhya S Chaudhary, AK Chaturvedani, Vipul R Patel and Devkant Hanumant

Abstract:
Present study was conducted among twenty four apparently healthy Surti buffalo calves were divided into four groups: Control (without any supplementation), Prebiotic (T₁: Mannan-oligosaccharides @ 10g/calf/day), Probiotic (T2: Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 3g/calf/day) and Prebiotic + Probiotic (T3: Mannan-oligosaccharides @ 10g/calf/day + Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 3g/calf/day). Twenty four apparently healthy Surti buffalo calves were divided into four groups: Control (without any supplementation), Prebiotic (T₁: Mannan-oligosaccharides @ 10g/calf/day), Probiotic (T2: Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 3g/calf/day) and Prebiotic + Probiotic (T3: Mannan-oligosaccharides @ 10g/calf/day + Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 3g/calf/day). Perusal of data revealed that there was statistically non-significant difference in the live body weight among all these four groups of animals. However, the live body weights of T₂ and T₃ group of animals were comparatively higher than control group of animals at all stages of the study. T₁ group of animals had comparatively lower body weights in comparison with T₂ and T₃ group of animals at almost all stages of the study. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the average daily gain in body weights between control and T₂ at 13-20^th, 34-41^th, 48-55^th day of age while it was significantly different between T₁ and T₂ group of animals during 55-62^nd day of age. Overall daily average daily gain during entire study period was 388.88±27.39, 427.57±46.77, 468.25±22.51 and 463.29±27.42 gm/day for control, T₁, T₂ and T₃ group of Surti buffalo calves. A non-significant difference in the values of the heart girth, height at withers and body length among all four groups of calves at all stages was found.