AbstractFourteen female Mehsana buffalo calves were divided into two groups of seven animals in each, viz., T1 group fed basal diet and T2 group fed basal diet supplemented with probiotics (containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 1.5 x 108 cfu/g and bacteria, Lactobacillus sporogens; 5 x 107 cfu/g) at the level of 5 g/h/d. The DM intake (kg/d) was significantly higher in probiotics supplemented group. The digestibility of DM, crude protein and NFE were significantly higher in T1 group compared to T2 group. The average body weight gain was significantly higher in T1 group than T2 group and feed conversion efficiency was lower in T1 group than T2 group. The cost of feeding per kg body weight gain was lower in probiotics supplemented group than the control group. Results revealed that supplementation of probiotics significantly influenced digestibility of DM, crude protein and NFE and growth performance of Mehsana buffalo calves.
Keywords: Probiotics; Growth performance; Digestibility; Buffalo calves.