Bacillus coagulans supplementation in Holstein Friesian female calves’ diet

After birth, twenty animals were divided into two groups: a control group (CTR) fed a basal diet, and a treatment group (T) fed a concentration of 10(9) CFU/kg of Bacillus coagulans DSM32016 (Technospore®). Trial started at 7 d of life (0 d of trial) and lasted 56 d. Colostrum was sampled at 6-12 hours after birth. Body weight (BW) evaluation, blood, and fecal sampling were performed at 0, 28 and 56 d. Plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), IgG and serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were analysed. Data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA and a Bonferroni test. Fecal samples were analyzed through 16S rRNA-gene sequencing. MetaCyc database was used for functional prediction, followed by a Bonferroni-Dunn evaluation. Colostrum IgG showed levels above 50 g/l. BW was higher in T vs CTR at 56 d (p<0.05). Plasma metabolites were not conditioned by the treatment. Serum T-AOC increased in T vs CTR at 56 d (p<0.05). β-diversity revealed differences between T and CTR at 28 and 56 d (p<0.05). Bifidobacterium, Prevotella 9 and Fusicatenibacter were more abundant in T vs CTR at 56 d (p<0.05). Starch degradation and L-isoleucine biosynthesis pathways significantly increased over time in T and were correlated with the cited taxa at 56 d (p<0.05). The supplementation of Bacillus coagulans DSM32016 ameliorated growth and serum T-AOC of calves, revealing its capacity to modulate potentially useful microbial niches.