The Effects of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Faecal and Blood Parameters in Adult Racing Horses

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on hematological and serological parameters as well as on fecal microbiome in twenty adult racehorses. The horses were randomly divided in two groups. The first was perorally supplemented with lyophilized bovine colostrum daily for 30 days, and the second was used as control and had no supplementation. Blood and fecal samples from each animal were collected on day 0 and 30. The results showed that the supplemented group displayed modest changes in some hematological and serological parameters compared to the non-supplemented group. Lactic acid showed significant difference (p=0.03) between the experimental (2.13±0.24 mmol/L) horses in the experimental group, compared to 3 out of 10 horses in the control group on day 30, which shows a statistically significant increase. (p=0.008). Presence of fungal agents detected at day 30, showed a decrease in the experimental group compared to the initial measurements, specifically, Geotrichum spp. from present in 8 horses, to present in 5 and Mucor spp. from present in 6 horses to absent (p=0.002). The findings suggest that bovine colostrum supplementation had beneficial effects on microbial balance and systemic health adult racing horses.