Abstract
The effects of Pronifer on the performance of lactating ewes and their offspring were investigated in the present study. Twelve single-type of birth Saidi ewes with their lambs were divided into two similar groups according to their lambing date and weight of lamb. Animals were assigned randomly to either the control diet (20% wheat straw and 80% concentrate mixture) or the experimental diet (the control diet plus Pronifer at a rate of 3 kg/ton of the concentrate mixture). The experiment lasted for 10 weeks starting at the 5 th day after lambing time. Milk yield as well as its fat and protein content were determined in the 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th week of lactation. Weighing lambs at birth and biweekly thereafter assessed their growth performance. At the end of experiment, blood samples were collected from ewes and lambs to determine some serum metabolites. Results indicated that ewes supplemented with Pronifer in their diet tended to produce higher milk yield, protein percent and protein yield than untreated ones by 9.3, 4.7 and 14.6%, respectively. However, fat percent and its yield tended to be lower by 24.9 and 13.2%, respectively in the tested than the control group. Average daily gain of tested lambs was numerically higher (about 12%) as compared with control lambs. Concentration of serum glucose and total cholesterol increased significantly (P<0.05) in the Pronifer -supplemented ewes and their offspring. Albumin concentration significantly (P<0.05) decreased while globulin concentration significantly (P<0.05) increased in blood serum of Pronifer supplemented animals. It could be concluded from the present investigation that the use of the probiotic Pronifer leads to improve the health status and feed utilization of both ewes and their lambs.
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