Effect of yeast supplementation on the growth performance of Malpura lambs

Abstract

Thirty-six Malpura lambs (age = 58 days; 8.9 kg BW) were equally divided into three groups (N = 12; six males and six females) to assess the effect of probiotics supplementation on growth, digestibility, rumen fermentation and carcass attributes. The lambs of the control group (CON) were not supplemented with probiotics, while test groups received either Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) or combination of S. cerevisiae and Lactobacillus sporogenes (SCLS) at 1.5 % of concentrate mixture. The lambs were fed ad libitum concentrate mixture and bajra (Pennisetum typhoides) straw in a cafeteria system until 180 days of age. Daily feed intake and weekly live weight changes were recorded. A metabolism trial was conducted on six lambs at 90 days. Rumen fermentation study was conducted at 105 days. At 6 months, all male lambs were slaughtered and carcass characteristics were recorded. Body weight and average daily gain (ADG) were similar among the three groups. The digestibilities of all the nutrients were also similar among the groups, except acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility, which was higher (P = 0.032) in SC and SCLS than the CON. The rumen fluid pH was higher (P = 0.04) in CON and SC group than SCLS at 0 h while NH(3)-N at 8 h sample was higher (P = 0.031) in SC and SCLS group than the control. Pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass weight and dressing yields were similar. ADF digestibility and rumen fermentation was improved in lambs by probiotic supplementation. However, carcass traits remained unchanged due to probiotics supplementation.

Role of probiotics in nutrition and health of small ruminants

“…Other researchers found that it increased growth and feed intake with no effect on FCR (Payandeh and Kafilzadeh 2007) or that it increased feed intake with no effect on growth and feed conversion (Khadem et al 2007) or that it had no effect in any of growth, feed intake and feed conversion (Macedo et al 2006, Kawas et al 2007a, Titiet al 2008). Soren et al (2013) observed that feeding of S. cerevisiae or combination of S. cerevisiae and L. sporogenes to lambs also had no effect on bodyweight and daily weight gain.…”

“…However, other studies recorded a significant reduction in ruminal VFA formation in growing lambs or adult goats given probiotic supplemented diets (Kowalik et al 2011, Tripathi andKarim 2011). Nevertheless, some researchers have found no effect of probiotic feed additives in total VFA concentrations in the rumen (Galip 2006, Tripathi et al 2008, Soren et al 2013.…”

“…With regard to protein metabolism, concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and urea decreased in lambs given a probiotic-supplemented diet (Chiofalo et al have attributed the reduction of blood urea concentration in lactobacilli probiotic (a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri) supplemented kids to the improved nutritional status of supplemented animals that do not resort to the amino-acid de-amination (Riis 1983) in order to acquire energy. Other researchers have found no effect of probiotic supplementation on concentrations of BUN and urea in sheep and lambs (Galip 2006, Abas et al 2007, Soren et al 2013. With regard to other protein metabolites, it has been recorded that concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulin in probiotic supplemented lambs have not changed (Galip 2006, Abas et al 2007, Dimova et al 2013, Soren et al 2013.…”

“…It may be possible that stimulation of rumen bacterial populations improved fibre and organic matter degradation, therefore, yeast supplementation improved availability of energy for microbial growth and the larger organic matter degradation allows increased DM intake. However, Soren et al (2013) have reported that feeding S. cerevisiae or a combination of S. cerevisiae and Lactobacillus sporogenes to lambs had no effect on dry matter intake and digestibility of DM, OM and NDF. Supplementation with S. cerevisiae or a combination of S. cerevisiae and L. sporogenes improved CP digestibility by 18% and 14%, respectively.…”

Microbial Community Structure and Functionality in Ruminants Fed the Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57

“…Several studies have shown S. cerevisiae to have no positive effect on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and weight gain compared to the control animals (Hristov et al, 2010;Pienaar et al, 2015;Soren et al, 2013). Under certain conditions, these "probiotic" organisms may even have a negative effect on ruminants.…”