Table 3.
Effect of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic on growth performance (mean±SE) of crossbred calves
| Group | T0 | T1 | T2 | T3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial body weight (kg) | 32.00 ± 0.96 | 32.08 ± 0.74 | 32.08 ± 1.08 | 32.08 ± 0.83 |
| Final body weight (kg) | 61.38 ± 1.13b | 70.11 ± 1.27a | 64.18 ± 1.04b | 72.18 ± 1.21a |
| Total body weight gain 90 days (kg) | 29.38 ± 0.88b | 38.03 ± 1.23a | 32.10 ± 1.36b | 40.10 ± 1.32a |
| Average daily gain (g/day) | 322.89 ± 9.72b | 417.91 ± 13.54a | 352.75 ± 14.95a | 440.66 ± 14.53a |
Means in row with different superscripts differ significantly (P<0.05). T0: Control group, basal diet without any additive; T1: Probiotic group, basal diet + Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 1 g/calf per day (2 × 1010 cfu/g); T2: Prebiotic group, basal diet + Mannan oligosaccharide @ 4 g/calf per day; and T3: Symbiotic group, basal diet + Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 0.5 g and 2 g MOS/calf per day