August 31, 2007

New bacteria seen to enhance weight gain in calves

A bacterial strain isolated in Australia called Propionibacterium jensenii 702 (PJ702), was examined for its potential as a direct-fed microbial (DFM) to improve weight gain in calves.

Twenty-four Holstein bull calves were randomly treated with this DFM and held under simulated commercial calf rearing conditions. Both groups were treated identically, with the exception that the treatment calves were given between 1.1¡Á108 and 1.2¡Á109 cfu/(kg day) of PJ702.

Faecal recovery of PJ702 from the treated calves in week 2 revealed successful gastrointestinal transit of the bacterium, and blood haematology and biochemistry indicated no adverse effects following PJ702 administration.

There were noted improvements in weight gains with the treatment group during both the pre-weaning and the weaning period.

Eighteen weeks after cessation of treatment, and removal to an extensive farming operation, treatment calves remained heavier to the control calves, with a final weight difference between the groups of 21.3 kilograms.