Year: 2017 | Month: December | Volume 7 | Issue 6
Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on Nutrient Digestibilities, Growth Performance and Enteric Methane Emissions in Deccani Ram Lambs
Abstract:
The present study was designed to investigate the effect of probiotic supplementation on nutrient digestibility, growth performance and enteric methane emissions in Deccani ram lambs. In vitro studies were conducted to select the best combination of probiotics based on in vitro dry matter digestibilities (IVDMD) and mean methane emissions for inclusion in in vivo studies. Increased in -vitro dry matter digestibilities and reduced total gas and methane emissions were observed with T4 probiotics (S. cerevisiae47@300 × 106 CFU /gm+ S. boulardii@50 × 106 CFU/gm + L. acidophilus@45 × 106 CFU + P. freudenreichii@50 × 106 CFU/gm). During second phase, 12 Deccani ram lambs of uniform body weight (16.5±0.64 kg with 130.11±3.00 days of age) were randomly allotted to 2 treatments in a completely randomized design. The nutrient digestibilities (P<0.05) increased with probiotic supplementation. The increase in nutrient digestibilities was reflected by higher live weight(P<0.05) and average daily weight gain (P<0.05). Feed efficiency of the animals improved as the feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg gain) (P<0.01), decreased. Higher (P < 0.05) Nitrogen, Ca and P balance was observed with probiotic supplementation. Mean enteric methane emissions (l/day) were significantly (P<0.01) lower in Group II (10.05± 0.39) than Group I (11.59± 0.70) and the reduction is 21.9 percent as compared to control group. It may be concluded that supplementation of probiotic increased nutrient digestibilities, growth performance and decreased enteric methane emissions, suggesting that the energy loss for ruminants in the form of methane emissions can be reduced efficiently.
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