Lactulose in combination with Enterococcus faecium: Protective role in calves

The priority aim of a lactulose feeding in farm animals is to compass an intestinal eubiosis. Additionally it can be used for sanitary prophylaxis and for performance enhancement. The application of lactulose in pre-ruminant calves shows no effect on growth performance but the effects of lactulose are obviously gender-specific. Changes in the intestinal morphology let assume that the lactulose feeding can reduce the immune reaction and improved the intestinal resorption. In healthy animals the lactulose feeding tends to result in an improved immune system and consequently to a positive interaction with the intestinal mucosa. Our data suggest that the use of lactulose could be meaningful when calves have intestinal irritation. By comparing expenses and gain of performance the economic profit in raising calves might be questionable.