Volume: 5, 2026
5th International PhD Students’ Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.A013
Published online: 22 April 2026
The influence of probiotic administration on phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of phagocytes in peripheral blood in holstein calves
Katarzyna Głodkowska* and Piotr Brodzki
Department and Clinic of Animal Reproduction, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 30 Głęboka St., 20-612 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: katarzyna.glodkowska@up.edu.pl
The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative assessment of the phagocytic activity of granulocytes and monocytes, as well as the intracellular killing of neutrophils, in the peripheral blood of calves administered probiotics as nutritional additives and in calves that were not fed probiotics. The research was conducted on 20 calves, which were divided into two groups of ten. The experimental group consisted of calves that received a probiotic as a feed supplement. The control group did not receive the probiotic. Additionally, the experimental group’s animals were derived from cows that had received a probiotic during pregnancy. Blood samples were obtained for testing four times: 48 hours after birth, then again at 21, 60 and 120 days. Phagocytic activity in granulocytes and monocytes, as well as the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils, were determined in the peripheral blood of all calves by flow cytometry.
Phagocytic activity and phagocyte killing were shown to be significantly higher in the calves in the experimental group at 48 hours postpartum. This suggests that administering probiotics to pregnant cows significantly increases immune cell activity in both the cows and their calves. Using probiotics as a nutritional supplement for calves after birth is also justified, as those receiving the probiotic showed significantly higher phagocytic and phagocyte killing activity throughout the experiment compared to the control group. This study shows that probiotics may stimulate the immune system in Holstein calves.
Keywords: calves; fagocytosis; probiotics; neutrophils
How to cite
Głodkowska K., Brodzki P., 2026. The influence of probiotic administration on phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of phagocytes in peripheral blood in holstein calves. In: 5th International PhD Students’ Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.A013