| Popis: |
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of propolis ethanol extract (EEP), a natural beekeeping product, on performance, fecal structure and general health status of calves during the preweaning phase. For this purpose, 24 newborn Simmental calves in a private farm were used as animal material. Calves given colostrum for the first 3 days after birth were divided into two similar groups according to their birth weight and gender. Differently from the control group, the calves in the experimental group (propolis) were given orally 4 ml/day propolis extract (30%; EEP). Weekly nasal discharge, cough, eye, ear and general health scoring, rectal body temperature and fecal pH measurement, daily fecal scoring and diarrhea day follow-up were performed for each calf in the study, which lasted up to 60 days of age. Feces samples taken from all calves at the beginning and at the end of the study were evaluated for Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacter spp. At the end of the study; statistical differences were found between the groups in favor of the propolis group in terms of body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight (BW), withers height (WH), rump height (RH) and chest depth (CD) (P < 0.05). At the end of the study, propolis extract positively affected the number of days with diarrhea and feces scores (P < 0.05); no statistically significant difference was found in terms of health scores and feces culture (P > 0.05). In addition, it was observed that the number of calves that needed to be monitored in terms of health status was less in the experimental group. |
