Probiotic Feed Additive "Bacell-M" in the Diet of Calves
The effectiveness of probiotic feed additive “Bacell-M” in the diet of Black-and-White calves was determined. The work was carried out on a farm in the Kemerovo region during 60 days in a winter period of 2017-2018. Taking into account age and live weight, two groups of animals were formed, 10 animals each. The age of the young animals at the beginning of the test was 5.5-6.0 months. The live weight of experimental animals in both groups was comparable and averaged 159.00-159.45 kg. The calves were under the same feeding and keeping conditions. The young animals from the control and experimental groups consumed the same amount of good quality feed. Calves of the control group received only the basic diet (BD). The experimental group received the BD and Bacell-M (Biotechagro, Tmashevsk, Russia) in dry form with mixed feed in the amount of 30 g head/day in accordance with the producer’s recommendation. The level of feeding was high, the livestock was provided with essential nutrients. The inclusion of Bacell-M in the diet had a positive effect on calf growth. The value of this indicator for the entire period of the research was 678.17 g in the control and 721.67 g in the experimental group, which was more by 43.50 g, or 6.03%. At the age of 8 months, the animals of the experimental group significantly exceeded the young animals in the control in average daily growth by 66.0 g, or 9.07%, in absolute gain - by 2.01 kg, or 9.19%. The economic effect amounted to 102.06 RUB/head.