87 Probiotic Supplementation Improves Lamb Performance When Transitioning to High Concentrate Diets. (8th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moody, Jordan N; Whitsel, Whitney; Ramsey, W S; Redden, Reid
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 100(2022)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 42
• Publication Date: 2022-03-08
• Subjects: probiotic lamb feedlot; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac028.077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: Lamb ruminal function is integral to their health and performance. To enhance growth post-weaning, lambs are often fed a high concentrate diet. While this strategy is common, issues can arise with ruminal acidosis from excess grain consumption, including reduced weight gain and mortality. We hypothesized that administering probiotics orally prior to the transition to concentrate feeds would improve lamb performance. To assess this, finewool lambs (n = 103; males: n = 47, females: n = 56) were weaned from their dams at approximately 100 days of age at an average body weight (BW) of 25.8 ±0.2 kg and placed in a feedlot. Lambs were randomly assigned to treatments, balanced by sex, of 0g, 5g, or 10g of an orally administered probiotic paste (ProBios, Menomonie, WI) containing live lactate producing bacteria. Treatments were administered upon arrival at the feedlot. Lambs were limit fed for 9 days and gradually transitioned to ad libitum access to a high concentrate ration. At 6 weekly intervals, BW, average daily gain (ADG) and blood plasma were collected. Mixed model analysis, with initial weight as a covariate, revealed that lambs receiving 10g of supplement were significantly heavier (P = 0.01) than 5g and 0g treated lambs (30.3±0.2 kg versus 29.9±0.2 kg and 29.6±0.2 kg). ADG was analyzed with fixed effects of treatment and sex. Analysis revealed that ADG tended to be greater for lambs receiving 10g treatment than those receiving 5g or 0g (P = 0.07). Four incidences of mortality were recorded; however there were no significant treatment or sex effects on lamb mortality. These data suggest that probiotic supplementation may be an effective strategy to decrease detrimental effects of diet transition on feeder lambs and may increase lamb performance while transitioning to a high concentrate diet.