ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРОБИОТИЧЕСКОГО ПРЕПАРАТА «LACTOBACT-ARZ» В ПРОФИЛАКТИКЕ И ЛЕЧЕНИИ ДИАРЕИ У ТЕЛЯТ-МОЛОЧНИКОВ

This study investigated the effectiveness of a probiotic in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in calves during the dairy period. This issue remains relevant because gastrointestinal diseases are common among young cattle. They weaken the animals immune systems, slow down weight gain, and require additional treatment costs. The aim of the study was to determine the preventive and therapeutic efficacy of the probiotic, as well as to compare recovery times in calves treated with the probiotic versus those treated with antibiotics. The animals were monitored for 10 days. During this period, the calves general condition, the presence of signs of diarrhea, and changes in live weight were recorded. No cases of diarrhea were observed in calves that received the probiotic for prophylactic purposes. In the control group, the disease was recorded in 4 out of 10 animals, or 40%. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). When a probiotic was used for treatment, all sick calves recovered by the seventh day. On average, the illness lasted 6.5 ± 0.5 days. In the group treated with antibiotics, recovery occurred on the 9-11 day, and the average duration of the disease was 10.2 ± 0.6 days. Consequently, the use of the probiotic reduced the duration of the disease by 36.3% compared with antibiotic therapy (p < 0.05). Calves receiving the probiotic also showed higher live weight gain than those in the control group and the antibiotic therapy group. This result is likely due to the fact that the probiotic helps maintain the normal composition of the intestinal microbiota, inhibits the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms, and strengthens the body’s natural defenses. The study results suggest that the probiotic may be an effective means of preventing and treating diarrhea in calves during the suckling period. Its use helps reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders, accelerate the animals’ recovery, and reduce the need for antibiotics.