title: A new synbiotic consisting of Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei and dextran improves milk production in Holstein dairy cows.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of a new synbiotic consisting of Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei (Lcc) and dextran (Dex) on milk production, a total of 58 Holstein dairy cows, which became pregnant and gave birth to calves at regular intervals and lactated steadily and continuously, were selected. The study had a completely randomized design, and the animals were divided into two groups. Group A was fed with a basic diet only, and Group B was fed with a basic diet supplemented with the synbiotic consisting of freeze-dried Lcc and mixed feed containing Dex for one year from August 2004. After supplementation with the synbiotic, milk yields and components of Group B were compared with those of Group A in the August, December of 2004, April and August of 2005. Milk yields of Group B were greater than those of Group A. There were significant differences (p<0.01 or 0.05) between these groups for all values. Furthermore, total amounts of fat, protein and solid non-fat in Group B significantly increased in comparison with those of Group A. In addition, the somatic cell counts of Group A significantly increased in August of 2004 and 2005 in comparison with those of Group B. Thus, the new synbiotic consisting of Lcc and Dex can increase the milk production of Holstein dairy cows throughout the year.
authors.affiliation: The Nagoya Research Laboratory, Meito Sangyo Co., Ltd., Kiyosu, Aichi, Japan
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Shinnosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashikawa
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D008894:Milk Proteins