Using probiotics to improve the utilization of chopped dried date palm leaves as a feed in diets of growing Farafra lambs

Abstract

The study determined the ability of three probiotics to improve the nutritional value of date palm leaves in diets of growing lambs. Twenty male Farafra lambs (26 ± 0.33 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four treatments (n = 6) and fed: a control or basal diet (C; 70% concentrate + 30% date palm leaves without additives) and supplemented with Bacillofort containing 2 × 1011 CFU of Bacillus subtilis/g (BAC treatment), Lacotpro containing 1 × 1012 CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus/g (LAC treatment) or ZAD containing 6 × 108 CFU of R. albus/g (ZAD treatment) at 4 g of all additives for 150 days. As a result of this study, LAC improved (P < 0.05) growth performance and feed efficiency compared to control. Additives increased (P = 0.001) concentrations of albumin, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cells and decreased (P = 0.001) globulin and urea-N. Additives increased hot carcass (P = 0.040) while BAC increased Longissimus dorsi, meat and fat without affecting water holding capacity compared to other treatments. In the metabolism experiment, BAC increased the digestibility of crude protein, while BAC and ZAD increased the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber. Additives did not affect nitrogen (N) intake and urinary N; however, decreased fecal N and increased N balance compared to the control. BAC and ZAD increased ruminal volatile fatty acids concentration compared to the control. Based on our results, Lacotpro could be used to improve growth performance and feed efficiency, while Bacillofort could be used to improve meat quality of in lambs.

Lactational performance and nutrients digestibility response of dairy buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic (Streptococcus spp.) and fibrolytic enzymes

“…Numerous studies have been conducted on the use of probiotics in ruminants, taking into consideration the animals' health and productivity. As presented in our study that probiotic added to the diet did not change feed intake which agreed with other studies (Azzaz et al, 2022; Hamdon et al, 2022), while other studies showed that probiotics generally had a stimulating impact on feed intake rates (Gaggìa et al, 2010; Jouany, 2006; Stella et al, 2007). Animal used, growth stage, environmental condition, dose, strains, duration and frequency or compositions of animal diets may partially explain the discrepancy between experiments (Khan et al, 2016).…”

“…It also improves productive performance parameters such as nutrients digestibility, especially ruminal fibre degradation, through improving rumen bacterial growth, especially cellulolytic bacterial growth and enhancing enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract, which helps in nutrient digestibility (Frédérique et al, 2012;Hamdon et al, 2022;Humayun Kober et al, 2022;Nalla et al, 2022).…”

“…Tropical regions frequently experience the issue of reduced feed intake caused by heat stress, so supplementing diets with probiotics increases feed intake and partially combats heat stress (Cai et al, 2021; Desnoyers et al, 2009). It also improves productive performance parameters such as nutrients digestibility, especially ruminal fibre degradation, through improving rumen bacterial growth, especially cellulolytic bacterial growth and enhancing enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract, which helps in nutrient digestibility (Frédérique et al, 2012; Hamdon et al, 2022; Humayun Kober et al, 2022; Nalla et al, 2022).…”

Isolation and functional analysis of acid-producing bacteria from bovine rumen

“…During the 18-day trial period, the sheep were treated daily by gavage. Each sheep in the experimental group was given 5 mL of mixed bacterial suspension, which contained five kinds of acid-producing bacteria, and the number of viable bacteria was 5 × 10 11 cfu ( Hamdon et al, 2022 ), whereas the control group was given the same volume of PBS. The feed intake of the sheep was measured during the experiment, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated (feed conversion rate = sheep daily gain/feed intake).…”