Effects of Daily Oral Administration of Difructose Anhydride III on Health Status, Blood Parameters and Faecal Shedding of Coliform Bacteria of Japanese Black Calves during the Pre-weaning Period

The prebiotic effect of difructose anhydride III (DFA III) as a supplement in milk replacers (MRs) on the health and faecal bacteriological flora of suckling Japanese Black calves was examined. Ten calves were divided into two equal groups (5 calves per group) and fed MR supplemented with or without DFA III. The prebiotic supplement was administered orally twice daily (3 g per administration) from within 5 days after calving to 1 month of age (Day 30). Health, haematology and blood-chemistry, and population of faecal coliforms were assessed at 2-weeks intervals. The number of calves requiring medication for diarrhoea tended to be lower (P=0.08) in the treatment group during the treatment and 1-month follow-up periods. The mean total cholesterol concentration differed significantly (P<0.05) at Day 14, and the total cholesterol concentration at Day 30 and iron concentration at Day 14 tend to differ between the groups. Additionally, although the number of coliforms at each sampling point decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the treatment group during the DFA III treatment period, no significant change was observed in the number of coliforms of the control group between Day 14 and Day 30. The differences between the groups might reflect the clinical incidence of diarrhoea after calving. The present study revealed the potential benefit of DFA III as a prebiotic for calves during the pre-weaning period.