This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of
2 different daily doses of short-chain fructooligosaccharides
(scFOS), a prebiotic ingredient, added to a
calf milk replacer on growth performance, carcass
characteristics, and fecal concentrations of short-chain
fatty acids of preruminant veal calves. In total, 112
male Prim’Holstein calves, between 8 and 10 d of age,
were randomized in this study according to their body
weight and were bred until the age of 168 d. They were
fed a calf milk replacer containing 5% soluble wheat
proteins as well as cereal-based pellets, the composition
of which was adapted to cover the needs of the animals
throughout the study. After 2 wk of adaptation, the
calf milk replacer was supplemented or not supplemented
with a daily dose of 3 or 6 g of scFOS. Growth
performance of calves, as measured by body weight,
cold carcass weight, feed intake, average daily gain, and
feed conversion ratio, was recorded and feces samples
were taken to evaluate short-chain fatty acid concentrations.
The inclusion of wheat proteins in milk replacer
did not negatively affect the growth performance of
calves in comparison with general standards. The addition
of scFOS in the milk reduced the feed conversion
ratio of veal calves in a dose-dependent manner and
tended to increase the carcass weight. A general trend
was observed for an increased production of total shortchain
fatty acids in time, but scFOS decreased acetate
proportion to the benefit of butyrate proportion. These
data suggest that inclusion of scFOS in the calf milk replacer
allowed the growth performance of preruminant
calves to be enhanced, possibly via a modification of
the activities of microbial fermentation.
Key words: veal calf , growth performance , prebiotic ,
fructooligosaccharide