Performance of lambs receiving probiotics in creep feeding

Abstract

The presente study was carried out
to evaluate the performance of 40 lambs 7/8 Ile
de France 1/8 Ideal (20 not castrated males and
20 females) raised with access to creep feeding,
until get 17 kg of corporeal weight. The animals
were divided in treatments, receiving isoproteic
and isoenergetic diets, with diferent levels of
probiotics (D1=0%, D2=0,8% e D3=12%). They
were analysed in regart to born weight, weight at 30
days and weight gain at maternal dependent (from
1th to 4th weeks) and maternal independent (from
5th to 8th week), the age of wean and daily weight
gain. The average intake of dry matter by the lambs
at D1, D2 and D3 was 0,27, 0,26 and 0,27 kg/day,
respectively. On maternal dependent phase, there
was no interaction and differences between diet and
sex in the born weight (3.30 kg), weight at 30 days
of age (11.79 kg) and in the average daily weight
gain (0.28 kg). On maternal independent phase,
there were no differences in the age of weam
(53 days) and daily weight gain (0,26 kg) between
diet and sex. It was concluded that probiotics
inclusion in the diet of the suckling lambs (males
not castrated and females) didn´t improve their performance.