ObjectiveTwo experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects on growth performance, digestibility, and blood metabolites of lambs during pre- and post-weaning period of inclusion of a commercial probiotic (PRO) containing a mixture of two strains of Pediococcus, Pediococcus acidilactici (1×106 colony-forming unit [cfu]/g) and Pediococcus pentosaceus (1.3×106 cfu/g), with dextrose as the carrier compound compared to a diet based on concentrate mixture and wheat straw.MethodsIn exp. 1, 24 male lambs of about 15±2.6 d age and initial body weight (BW) of 5.52±0.6 kg were randomly allocated into three groups. One group received control diet without additives, and remainders received control diet supplemented with 0.5 or 1 g PRO/lamb/d. Daily feed intake and biweekly BW were recorded. In exp. 2, five lambs, (initial BW = 29.72±1.15 kg, age = 6.54±0.32 mo) were used as experimental animals in a digestion trial. They were fed the same diets as in Exp. 1.ResultsThe supplementation of PRO did not result in any significant differences in milk intake, average daily gain (ADG), or total gain between treatments during the pre-weaning period. Total dry matter intake tended to be greater (p = 0.07) with addition of PRO in the post-weaning diets. During post-weaning phase, the final BW, ADG, total gain, and feed conversion ratio of the lambs receiving PRO treatments tended to be greater (p≤0.10) than the control group. Addition of PRO in post-weaning diet decreased (p≤0.01) blood urea and cholesterol concentrations. With the exception of ether extract digestibility, all nutrients digestibility were improved with inclusion PRO in the post-weaning diets.ConclusionLambs that received PRO in post-weaning diet appeared to show a better performance than lambs in pre-weaning period. Addition of the probiotic in the post-weaning diet trended towards improved dry matter intake, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and nutrients digestibility.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of glycerol in the diet on milk yield and composition, diet digestibility and some blood metabolites of dairy buffaloes in early lactation. A total of 24 buffaloes were blocked by average milk yield, parity and BW and then randomly assigned to three treatments: control without glycerol (CON); low glycerol (LG): control plus glycerol at 150 ml/day per buffalo; and high glycerol (HG): control plus glycerol at 300 ml/day per buffalo. The experimental period lasted for 60 days. Feeding LG and HG decreased (P<0.0001) dry matter intake compared with the CON. Buffaloes supplemented with LG and HG produced more milk (P<0.01) and had a greater (P<0.0001) yield of fat-corrected milk (3.5%) than those buffaloes fed control treatment. Glycerol-supplemented buffaloes showed a positive energy status indicated by reduced concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate. Feeding LG and HG tended to increase (P⩽0.10) concentrations of milk fat, and serum total protein and globulin and significantly decreased (P⩽0.05) milk urea nitrogen and somatic cells counts (SCCs) compared to the CON group. Inclusion of LG and HG had no effect on organic matter and non-fiber carbohydrate digestion, but improved dry matter (P=0.02), CP (P=0.09), ether extract (P=0.03), NDF (P=0.07) and ADF (P=0.03) digestion.

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Animals fed with a high amount of a wide range of antioxidants in their diet are significantly protected against oxidative stress. Powerful antioxidant substances such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoids are present naturally in red-hot pepper (RHP). This study hypothesized that using RHP may provide protection against oxidative stress and enhance animal physiological responses. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of feeding New Zealand white rabbits with RHP-supplemented diets on their physiological and biochemical responses. New Zealand White rabbits (age = 6 weeks, n = 48) were split equally into three groups (n = 16 in each group). One group was fed a basal diet only (control group), with the other two groups fed a basal diet along with 1 and 2% RHP. Mass spectrometric analysis for the RHP methanolic extract showed some phenolic compounds, such as p-coumaric, sinapinic acids, vanillic, and luteolin, as well as catechin and its isomers. Hepatic antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH, GSH-Px, and CAT) were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) by feeding rabbits diets supplemented with 1 or 2% RHP. The addition of RHP significantly enhanced immune-responses; phagocytic activity, chemotaxis, TIg, IgG, IgM, and IgA increased when growing rabbits were fed RHP compared with the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 1 or 2% RHP may play a role as an enhancer of growth and immune response in growing rabbits.

his study was conducted to evaluate the effect of red hot pepper (RHP) as a natural antioxidant on liver, kidney functions and oxidative stress status of fattening rabbit's. A total of 48 New Zealand white rabbits, unsexed rabbits,42 days-old, 1081.10 ± 60.12g were used in a complete randomized design. In this study rabbits were weighed individually and assigned randomly to three groups of 16 animals ∕ each with 8 replicates of 2 animals each. Three experimental diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements. Diet one served as control basal diet with no RHP, diet 2 and 3 supplement red hot pepper to the basal diet (RHP) at two levels (1 and 2%), respectively. Also, the present results illustrated that rabbits fed 1% or 2% RHP had no significant effect on the values of live body weights at the end of the experimental period and also on absolute and relative liver and kidney weights compared to control dietary treatment. In addition, the studied parameters were; liver, kidney functions and some oxidative stress enzymes. The results showed that addition of 1and/or 2 RHP improved (P<0.05) Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity compared to control group and at the same time1%RHP decreased (P<0.05) serum urea and creatinine levels, while serum uric acid concentration increased (P<0.05) compared whit control group. Furthermore, addition of 1 and/or 2 RHP to rabbit diets increased (P<0.05) the activity of oxidative stress enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared with control group. This study showed that RHP when added into fattening rabbit diets has no adverse effects on liver and kidney functions and enhancing its oxidative stress. Also, the present result indicated that adding RHP had not any effect on serum total protein and albumin, while treatments 1% and or 2% led to highest (P<0.05) globulin levels compared with control group. Also, the results indicated that there were no effect of treatments on the structure of cells in liver or kidney. Generally, from the present results it can be concluded that supplementation of RHP at a level of1% and 2% in the ration of fattening rabbit led to improvement of physiological responses as a result of positive effect on blood metabolites.