Effect of inoculants of different composition on the quality of rye silages harvested at different stages of maturity

Winter rye (Secale cereale L.), one of the small-grain winter annuals, can be used as a cover crop for protection against soil erosion for absorption of unused soil nitrogen, and for cattle feed by preserving as silage. The experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the potential of the blend of homofermentative and hetero- and homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as a rye silage additive. Early-cut rye (at boot stage, wilted) and whole-crop rye (at milk and soft dough stages of grain) were ensiled in laboratory mini-silos with (1) a blend of homofermentative LAB strains containing Lactobacillus plantarum (DSM26571), Enterococcus faecium (DSM22502), and Lactococcus lactis (NCIMB30117), (2) a blend of hetero- and homofermentative LAB strains containing Lactobacillus plantarum (DSM26571), Enterococcus faecium (DSM22502), and Lactobacillus buchneri (DSM22501), or (3) a blend of hetero- and homofermentative LAB strains containing Lactobacillus buchneri (DSM22501) and Lactococcus lactis (DSM11037). They were compared to ensiling without additive. After 60 days of fermentation at room temperature, mini-silos were opened, sampled for proximate analysis, forage hygiene, fermentation profile, and subjected to an aerobic stability (AS) test. Although the addition of homofermentative LAB strains was effective in reducing fermentation losses, it impaired the aerobic stability of rye silages. The combination of hetero- and homofermentative LAB strains was effective in reducing the aerobic deterioration of the rye silages by supporting a low pH value and inhibiting the proliferation of yeast and moulds

Sodium hydroxide enhances extractability and analysis of proanthocyanidins in ensiled sainfoin (onobrychis viciifolia)

Little information exists on the effects of ensiling on condensed tannins or proanthocyanidins. The acetone–butanol–HCl assay is suitable for measuring proanthocyanidin contents in a wide range of samples, silages included, but provides limited information on proanthocyanidin composition, which is of interest for deciphering the relationships between tannins and their bioactivities in terms of animal nutrition or health. Degradation with benzyl mercaptan (thiolysis) provides information on proanthocyanidin composition, but proanthocyanidins in several sainfoin silages have proved resistant to thiolysis. We now report that a pretreatment step with sodium hydroxide prior to thiolysis was needed to enable their analysis. This alkaline treatment increased their extractability from ensiled sainfoin and facilitated especially the release of larger proanthocyanidins. Ensiling reduced assayable proanthocyanidins by 29%, but the composition of the remaining proanthocyanidins in silage resembled that of the fresh plants

Produzione, qualità e analisi della filiera produttiva del lino da fibra in Italia

Fibre flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is disappeared from the ltalian crop systems, while the textile industry has reached a leading position. The reintroduction of the crop is than potentially promising but the crop techniques and the production processes have to be set up. In 12 environments: crop development and growth, cultivar response, straw, fibre and seed yields, and fibre quality were analysed in the 1992-98 period. The data pointed out crop cycles of 176 and 110 d for the autumn and the spring sowing time respectively, corresponding to 1125 and 990°C d cumulated growing degree. Straw yield at pulling was on average of 6.3 t ha-1, with relevant differences among years and environrnents. Early maturity cultivar yielded more in the less favourable sites. N fertilization was occasionally relevant, and a generally distributions of 60 kg N ha-1 was the more effective. In the Mediterranean environments, with the autumn, sowing flax was more productive and the yield steady. The long fibre ratio was often low (10-13%) and the quality uneven because of the insufficient cleanliness due to retting difficulties. Occasionally, the value of the fibre was affected by the insufficient stem length. In the less dense crop, the seed yield was on average 0.9 t ha-1. Such productions were similar to those assessed for the more dense crop. In conclusion: because of the complexity of the interactions among the crop growth, the yield, the retting process and the fibre quality flax reintroduction is doubtful. In the production processes retting seems to be the crucial phase. Il lino da fibra (Linum usitatissimum L.) è da tempo assente negli ordinamenti colturali italiani, mentre è assai importante l'industria di filatura. La reintroduzione della coltura appare quindi potenzialmente promettente, ma richiede la messa a punto dell'agrotecnica e della filiera produttiva. Nel periodo 1992-1998 in 12 ambienti sono stati esaminati: lo sviluppo e la crescita della coltura, l'adattamento di cultivar, la produzione di paglia, fibra e seme, la resa alla stigliatura, la qualità della fibra. I dati raccolti evidenziano cicli colturali in media di 176 e 110 d rispettivamente per le semine autunnali (ambienti del centro-sud) e vemino-primaverili; corrispondenti a somme termiche di 1125 e 990°C d. La produzione di paglia alla estirpatura è stata in media di 6.3 t ha-1 con valori assai variabili tra annate e ambienti. Le varietà a ciclo corto sono apparse migliori nelle condizioni difficili. L'effetto della concimazione azotata è apparsa talvolta rilevante e comunque con dosi ottimali prossime a 60 kg ha-1 di N. Negli ambienti del centro-sud le semine autunnali si sono dimostrate spesso le più interessanti e sicure. La resa in fibra lunga è stata bassa (10-13%) e la qualità variabile per la scarsa pulizia dovuta alle difficoltà di macerazione. La modesta lunghezza tecnica dello stelo sovente riduce il valore del prodotto. In coltura rada, la produzione di seme è variata da 0.5 a 1.5 t ha-1; tali valori non si sono discostati in modo apprezzabile da quelli ottenuti in coltura fitta. In conclusione, la diffusione del lino appare problematica per le complesse interazioni tra la produzione, il processo di macerazione e la qualità della fibra. Soprattutto la macerazione appare il passaggio chiave

Benefits of condensed tannins in forage legumes fed to ruminants:Importance of structure, concentration, and diet composition

Condensed tannins (CTs) account for up to 20% of the dry matter in forage legumes used as ruminant feeds. Beneficial animal responses to CTs have included improved growth, milk and wool production, fertility, and reduced methane emissions and ammonia volatilization from dung or urine. Most important is the ability of such forages to combat the effects of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. Inconsistent animal responses to CTs were initially attributed to concentration in the diet, but recent research has highlighted the importance of their molecular structures, as well as concentration, and also the composition of the diet containing the CTs. The importance of CT structural traits cannot be underestimated. Interdisciplinary research is the key to unraveling the relationships between CT traits and bioactivities and will enable future on-farm exploitation of these natural plant compounds. Research is also needed to provide plant breeders with guidelines and screening tools to optimize CT traits, in both the forage and the whole diet. In addition, improvements are needed in the competitiveness and agronomic traits of CT-containing legumes and our understanding of options for their inclusion in ruminant diets. Farmers need varieties that are competitive in mixed swards and have predictable bioactivities. This review covers recent results from multidisciplinary research on sainfoin (Onobrychis Mill. spp.) and provides an overview of current developments with several other tanniniferous forages. Tannin chemistry is now being linked with agronomy, plant breeding, animal nutrition, and parasitology. The past decade has yielded considerable progress but also generated more questions — an enviable consequence of new knowledge

On farm agronomic and first environmental evaluation of oil crops for sustainable bioenergy chains

Energy crops, and in particular oil crops, could be an important occasion for developing new non food production rows for a new multi-functional agriculture in Italy. In this view, the use of local biomass is a fundamental starting point for the development of a virtuous energy chain that should pursue not only agricultural profitability, but also chain sustainability and that is less dependent on the global market, characterized by instability in terms of biomass availability and price. From this perspective, particular attention must be paid to crop choice on the basis of its rusticity and of its adaptability to local growing conditions and to low input cropping systems. In this context, alike woody and herbaceous biomasses, oil crops such as sunflower and rapeseed should be able to support local agricultural bioenergy chain in Italy. In addition, in a local bioenergy chain, the role of the farmers should not be limited just to grain production; but also grain processing should be performed at farm or consortium level in oilseed extraction plants well proportioned to the cropped surface. In this way, by means of a simple power generator, farmer could thus produce its own thermal and electric energy from the oil, maximizing his profit. This objective could also be achieved through the exploitation of the total biomass, including crop residues and defatted seed meals, that may be considered as fundamental additional economic and/or environmental benefits of the chain. This paper reports some results of three-years on-farm experiments on oil crop chain carried out in the framework of "Bioenergie" project, that was focused to enhance farmers awareness of these criteria and to the feasibility at open field scale of low-input cultivation of rapeseed, sunflower and Brassica carinata in seven Italian regions. In several on-farm experiences, these crops produced more than 800 kg ha-1 of oil with good energy properties. Defatted seed meals could be interesting as organic fertilizers and, in the case of B. carinata, as a biofumigant amendment that could offer a total or partial alternative to some chemicals in agriculture. Furthermore, biomass soil incorporation could contribute to C sequestration, catching CO2 from atmosphere and sinking a part in soil as stable humus. Finally, four different open field experiences carried out again in the second year of the project, have been analysed in order to evaluate their energy and greenhouse gasses balance after cultivation phase

Benefits of Condensed Tannins in Forage Legumes Fed to Ruminants: Importance of Structure, Concentration, and Diet Composition

Condensed tannins (CTs) account for up to 20% of the dry matter in forage legumes used as ruminant feeds. Beneficial animal responses to CTs have included improved growth, milk and wool production, fertility, and reduced methane emissions and ammonia volatilization from dung or urine. Most important is the ability of such forages to combat the effects of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. Inconsistent animal responses to CTs were initially attributed to concentration in the diet, but recent research has highlighted the importance of their molecular structures, as well as concentration, and also the composition of the diet containing the CTs. The importance of CT structural traits cannot be underestimated. Interdisciplinary research is the key to unraveling the relationships between CT traits and bioactivities and will enable future on-farm exploitation of these natural plant compounds. Research is also needed to provide plant breeders with guidelines and screening tools to optimize CT traits, in both the forage and the whole diet. In addition, improvements are needed in the competitiveness and agronomic traits of CT-containing legumes and our understanding of options for their inclusion in ruminant diets. Farmers need varieties that are competitive in mixed swards and have predictable bioactivities. This review covers recent results from multidisciplinary research on sainfoin (Onobrychis Mill. spp.) and provides an overview of current developments with several other tanniniferous forages. Tannin chemistry is now being linked with agronomy, plant breeding, animal nutrition, and parasitology. The past decade has yielded considerable progress but also generated more questions-an enviable consequence of new knowledge

Inclusion de légumineuses bioactives (sainf oin, trèfle violet) dans les ensilages à base d'her be: bénéfices pour la production des ruminants et les r ejets polluants

Fodder legume species allow to reduce inputs in livestock breeding systems (fertilizer, concentrates) notably because they contain high levels of crude proteins which are of primary importance in ruminant nutrition. However, during both silage and rumen fermentation processes, proteins are submitted to degradation which affects forage nutritive value and leads to nitrogen (N) losses notably via urine. Some specific legumes can then be of particular interest as they produce plant secondary compounds that can positively affect silage and digestive processes. Condensed tannins (CTs) present in sainfoin (SF, Onobrychis viciifolia) are able to bind with proteins thereby reducing their degradation in the silo and the rumen, resulting in a shift in N excretion from urine to faeces. Red clover (RC, Trifolium pratense) contains polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of different phenolics into quinones. As CTs, quinones are able to form complexes with proteins that will similarly reduce their degradation in the silo and the rumen. The aim of this thesis was to investigate and quantify the potential benefits of using these two bioactive legume species on i) quality and conservation of silages, ii) rumen fermentation, digestive efficiency and sheep performance, and iii) environmental footprint (N excretion and CH4 emissions). We conducted two in vitro and two in vivo trials which were based on silages of pure legumes or of different mixtures with the grass species (timothy T, Phleum pratense L.), which served as control. In the in vitro trials, we focussed on silage quality, silage conservation and rumen fermentation, while in the in vivo trials, we focussed on lambs' performance, digestion efficiency, N balance and CH4 emissions. Including bioactive legumes in mixtures with grass improved, compared to pure grass, forage quality and fermentation during the silage making process, as well as proteins' protection from degradation within both the silos and the rumen. Lambs fed with the mixtures involving legumes responded with an increase in DM intake compared to their counterparts fed with T. Nevertheless, due to a possibly different fibre composition and to the presence of CT which impaired SF digestibility, lambs that consumed T-SF showed lower intake and performance than those that received RC-containing silages. In the rumen, RC proteins appeared more protected from degradation than SF ones, while in the subsequent parts of the digestive tract, the proteins-CT complexes (from SF) might less dissociate than the proteins-quinones ones (from RC). This could partly explain the environment-friendly shift in N excretion from urine to faeces when animals are fed with T-SF. SF also allowed to slightly reduce CH4 emissions. Thus, utilizing bioactive legumes in livestock feeding practices is a promising strategy to produce animal products more sustainably. Our results show different benefits relative to the bioactive legume species involved, directed towards boosted forage quality and animals' performance for RC but towards lowered wastes for SF. Further research is thus needed to better characterize these benefits and enlarging investigations to other plant species, mixtures and potential benefits (e.g. health). This will help to determine the appropriate choice of plant species according to the objectives.Les légumineuses permettent de réduire les intrants en élevage (engrais, concentrés) en raison notamment de leurs niveaux élevés en protéines. Cependant, à la fois pendant le processus d'ensilage et celui de fermentation dans le rumen, les protéines peuvent subir une importante dégradation, ce qui affecte la valeur nutritive des fourrages et induit des rejets d'azote (N) importants, notamment dans l'urine. Certaines légumineuses peuvent alors être d'un intérêt particulier car elles produisent des composés secondaires qui peuvent modifier positivement les processus fermentaires et digestifs. Ainsi, les tannins condensés (CT) présents dans le sainfoin (SF, Onobrychis viciifolia) sont capables de se lier aux protéines, réduisant leur dégradation dans le silo et le rumen et se traduisant par un transfert de l'excrétion d'azote de l'urine vers les fèces. Le trèfle violet (RC, Trifolium pratense) contient la polyphénoloxydase (PPO), une enzyme qui catalyse l'oxydation de différents composés phénoliques en quinones. Comme les CTs, les quinones sont capables de former des complexes avec les protéines permettant de réduire leur dégradation dans le silo et le rumen. L'objectif de cette thèse était alors d'étudier et de quantifier les bénéfices potentiels de l'utilisation de ces deux espèces de légumineuses bioactives sur i) la qualité et la conservation des ensilages, ii) la fermentation ruminale, l'efficacité digestive et les performances des ovins, et iii) l'empreinte environnementale (excrétion d'N et de CH4). Nous avons effectué deux essais in vitro et deux essais in vivo, basés sur des ensilages composés de ces deux légumineuses, seules ou en mélange avec une graminée (la fléole- T, Phleum pratense L.) qui nous a servie de contrôle. Les essais in vitro nous ont permis de nous focaliser sur la qualité et la conservation des ensilages ainsi que sur la fermentation ruminale, tandis que les essais in vivo se sont concentrés sur la performance et l'efficacité digestive des agneaux, ainsi que sur leur bilan azoté et leurs émissions de CH4. L'inclusion de légumineuses bioactives dans les ensilages d'herbe a amélioré la qualité du fourrage, la fermentation pendant le processus d'ensilage ainsi que la protection des protéines contre une dégradation au sein du silo et du rumen. Globalement, l'alimentation des agneaux avec des mélanges comportant ces légumineuses s'est traduite par une augmentation de l'ingestion de matière sèche, en comparaison des agneaux alimentés avec la graminée pure. Néanmoins, en raison de la digestibilité nettement plus faible de T-SF, probablement due à une composition et une nature des fibres différentes ainsi qu'à la présence de CT, les agneaux ayant reçu T-SF ont montré une ingestion et des performances plus faibles que ceux ayant reçu les ensilages contenant RC. Dans le rumen, il semble que les protéines de RC aient été plus protégées de la dégradation que celles de SF, tandis que dans la suite du tractus digestif, les complexes formés entre protéines et CT (avec SF) se seraient moins dissociés que ceux formés entre protéines et quinones (avec RC), ce qui pourrait en partie expliquer le transfert d'excrétion de l'N de l'urine vers les fèces, observé chez les agneaux alimentés avec T-SF et bénéfique pour l'environnement. SF a également permis de réduire légèrement les émissions de CH4. Ainsi, utiliser des légumineuses bioactives dans les pratiques d'alimentation des ruminants apparaît une stratégie prometteuse pour fournir des produits animaux de façon plus durable. Nos résultats montrent que chaque espèce apporte des avantages différents, plutôt orientés vers la qualité de l'aliment et les performances animales pour RC mais plutôt orientés vers la réduction des rejets pour SF. Des recherches complémentaires sont donc nécessaires pour mieux caractériser ces avantages et élargir les investigations à d'autres espèces, d'autres mélanges et d'autres bénéfices potentiels. (...

Inclusion de légumineuses bioactives (sainfoin, trèfle violet) dans les ensilages à base d'herbe : bénéfices pour la production des ruminants et les rejets polluants

Les légumineuses permettent de réduire les intrants en élevage (engrais, concentrés) en raison notamment de leurs niveaux élevés en protéines. Cependant, à la fois pendant le processus d'ensilage et celui de fermentation dans le rumen, les protéines peuvent subir une importante dégradation, ce qui affecte la valeur nutritive des fourrages et induit des rejets d'azote (N) importants, notamment dans l'urine. Certaines légumineuses peuvent alors être d'un intérêt particulier car elles produisent des composés secondaires qui peuvent modifier positivement les processus fermentaires et digestifs. Ainsi, les tannins condensés (CT) présents dans le sainfoin (SF, Onobrychis viciifolia) sont capables de se lier aux protéines, réduisant leur dégradation dans le silo et le rumen et se traduisant par un transfert de l'excrétion d'azote de l'urine vers les fèces. Le trèfle violet (RC, Trifolium pratense) contient la polyphénoloxydase (PPO), une enzyme qui catalyse l'oxydation de différents composés phénoliques en quinones. Comme les CTs, les quinones sont capables de former des complexes avec les protéines permettant de réduire leur dégradation dans le silo et le rumen. L'objectif de cette thèse était alors d'étudier et de quantifier les bénéfices potentiels de l'utilisation de ces deux espèces de légumineuses bioactives sur i) la qualité et la conservation des ensilages, ii) la fermentation ruminale, l'efficacité digestive et les performances des ovins, et iii) l'empreinte environnementale (excrétion d'N et de CH4). Nous avons effectué deux essais in vitro et deux essais in vivo, basés sur des ensilages composés de ces deux légumineuses, seules ou en mélange avec une graminée (la fléole- T, Phleum pratense L.) qui nous a servie de contrôle. Les essais in vitro nous ont permis de nous focaliser sur la qualité et la conservation des ensilages ainsi que sur la fermentation ruminale, tandis que les essais in vivo se sont concentrés sur la performance et l'efficacité digestive des agneaux, ainsi que sur leur bilan azoté et leurs émissions de CH4. L'inclusion de légumineuses bioactives dans les ensilages d'herbe a amélioré la qualité du fourrage, la fermentation pendant le processus d'ensilage ainsi que la protection des protéines contre une dégradation au sein du silo et du rumen. Globalement, l'alimentation des agneaux avec des mélanges comportant ces légumineuses s'est traduite par une augmentation de l'ingestion de matière sèche, en comparaison des agneaux alimentés avec la graminée pure. Néanmoins, en raison de la digestibilité nettement plus faible de T-SF, probablement due à une composition et une nature des fibres différentes ainsi qu'à la présence de CT, les agneaux ayant reçu T-SF ont montré une ingestion et des performances plus faibles que ceux ayant reçu les ensilages contenant RC. Dans le rumen, il semble que les protéines de RC aient été plus protégées de la dégradation que celles de SF, tandis que dans la suite du tractus digestif, les complexes formés entre protéines et CT (avec SF) se seraient moins dissociés que ceux formés entre protéines et quinones (avec RC), ce qui pourrait en partie expliquer le transfert d'excrétion de l'N de l'urine vers les fèces, observé chez les agneaux alimentés avec T-SF et bénéfique pour l'environnement. SF a également permis de réduire légèrement les émissions de CH4. Ainsi, utiliser des légumineuses bioactives dans les pratiques d'alimentation des ruminants apparaît une stratégie prometteuse pour fournir des produits animaux de façon plus durable. Nos résultats montrent que chaque espèce apporte des avantages différents, plutôt orientés vers la qualité de l'aliment et les performances animales pour RC mais plutôt orientés vers la réduction des rejets pour SF. Des recherches complémentaires sont donc nécessaires pour mieux caractériser ces avantages et élargir les investigations à d'autres espèces, d'autres mélanges et d'autres bénéfices potentiels. (...)Fodder legume species allow to reduce inputs in livestock breeding systems (fertilizer, concentrates) notably because they contain high levels of crude proteins which are of primary importance in ruminant nutrition. However, during both silage and rumen fermentation processes, proteins are submitted to degradation which affects forage nutritive value and leads to nitrogen (N) losses notably via urine. Some specific legumes can then be of particular interest as they produce plant secondary compounds that can positively affect silage and digestive processes. Condensed tannins (CTs) present in sainfoin (SF, Onobrychis viciifolia) are able to bind with proteins thereby reducing their degradation in the silo and the rumen, resulting in a shift in N excretion from urine to faeces. Red clover (RC, Trifolium pratense) contains polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of different phenolics into quinones. As CTs, quinones are able to form complexes with proteins that will similarly reduce their degradation in the silo and the rumen. The aim of this thesis was to investigate and quantify the potential benefits of using these two bioactive legume species on i) quality and conservation of silages, ii) rumen fermentation, digestive efficiency and sheep performance, and iii) environmental footprint (N excretion and CH4 emissions). We conducted two in vitro and two in vivo trials which were based on silages of pure legumes or of different mixtures with the grass species (timothy T, Phleum pratense L.), which served as control. In the in vitro trials, we focussed on silage quality, silage conservation and rumen fermentation, while in the in vivo trials, we focussed on lambs' performance, digestion efficiency, N balance and CH4 emissions. Including bioactive legumes in mixtures with grass improved, compared to pure grass, forage quality and fermentation during the silage making process, as well as proteins' protection from degradation within both the silos and the rumen. Lambs fed with the mixtures involving legumes responded with an increase in DM intake compared to their counterparts fed with T. Nevertheless, due to a possibly different fibre composition and to the presence of CT which impaired SF digestibility, lambs that consumed T-SF showed lower intake and performance than those that received RC-containing silages. In the rumen, RC proteins appeared more protected from degradation than SF ones, while in the subsequent parts of the digestive tract, the proteins-CT complexes (from SF) might less dissociate than the proteins-quinones ones (from RC). This could partly explain the environment-friendly shift in N excretion from urine to faeces when animals are fed with T-SF. SF also allowed to slightly reduce CH4 emissions. Thus, utilizing bioactive legumes in livestock feeding practices is a promising strategy to produce animal products more sustainably. Our results show different benefits relative to the bioactive legume species involved, directed towards boosted forage quality and animals' performance for RC but towards lowered wastes for SF. Further research is thus needed to better characterize these benefits and enlarging investigations to other plant species, mixtures and potential benefits (e.g. health). This will help to determine the appropriate choice of plant species according to the objectives

Supplementation of direct-fed microbial Enterococcus faecium 669 affects performance of preweaning dairy calves

Optimization and support of health and performance of preweaning dairy calves is paramount to any dairy operation, and natural solutions, such as probiotics, may help to achieve such a goal. Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of direct-fed microbial (DFM) Enterococcus faecium 669 on performance of preweaning dairy calves. In experiment 1, twenty 4-d-old Holstein calves [initial body weight (BW) 41 ± 2.1 kg] were randomly assigned to either (1) no probiotic supplementation (CON; n = 10) or (2) supplementation with probiotic strain E. faecium 669 during the preweaning period (DFM; n = 10) at 2.0 × 1010 cfu/kg of whole milk. Full individual BW was analyzed every 20 d for average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) determination. In experiment 2, thirty 4-d-old Holstein calves (initial BW 40 ± 1.9 kg) were assigned to the same treatments as in experiment 1 (CON and DFM). The DFM supplementation period was divided into period I (from d 0 to 21) and II (from d 22 to 63), with weaning occurring when animals were 67 d of age. During the entire experimental period, DFM was mixed into the whole milk at a rate of 1.5 × 1010 and 2.5 × 109 cfu/kg of whole milk/calf per day for periods I and II, respectively (6-time reduction). Full individual BW was taken every 21 d. As a routine of the experiment, calves were monitored daily, and diarrhea cases were evaluated using a daily 3-point fecal score. For both experiments, all data were analyzed using calf as the experimental unit. In experiment 1, DFM-supplemented calves were heavier on d 40 (+ 4.5 kg) and 60 (+ 6.5 kg) and had a greater ADG (+ 118 g) versus CON. In experiment 2, supplementation with DFM significantly tended to reduce diarrhea occurrence. Treatment × day and treatment × week interactions were observed for BW, ADG, and gain-to-feed ratio. Dairy calves supplemented with DFM were 1.8 and 3.5 kg heavier on d 42 and at weaning, respectively, and had a greater ADG from d 21 to 42 (+ 52 g) and 42 to 63 (+ 77 g) and gain-to-feed ratio from d 42 to 63 (+ 8.6%). In summary, supplementation of E. faecium 669 to dairy calves improved preweaning performance, even when the dose of the DFM was reduced by 6- to 8-times. Additionally, initial promising results were observed on diarrhea occurrence, but further studies are warranted