Effect of Zoovit LL probiotic and herbal mixture supplementation on growth performance and carcass quality of dairy lambs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61308/VUOE4431Keywords:
probiotic, herbal mixture, growth parameters, slaughter traits, cuts, dairy lambsAbstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of 50 ml of the Zoovit LL probiotic per animal per day, given orally, and a mixture of herbs added at an amount of 6% to the pelleted feed on the growth and slaughter traits of lambs aged 30±5 days of the Bulgarian Dairy Synthetic Population (BDSP) breed over a period of 44 days. The lambs were divided into three groups of 12 animals each. The control group (K) received a standard compound pellet; the first experimental group (O1) received the same feed along with an oral supplement of 50 ml Zoovit LL probiotic per animal per day, whereas the second experimental group (O2) was fed a compound pellet supplemented with 6% herbal mixture (milk thistle, sage, thyme, elderberry, nettle, and chamomile).
The addition of the probiotic and the herbal mixture to the feed of fattening BDSP lambs resulted in a significantly increased average daily weight gain in the second week compared to the controls. At the end of the experiment, no significant differences were observed in growth parameters between the experimental and control groups. Slaughter traits and spleen weight in the group receiving the herbal mixture were lower compared to the control group. Longer rumen papillae were demonstrated in the group supplemented with the probiotic. Linear carcass measurements did not differ significantly between the groups. The weight of the neck in the group receiving a probiotic supplement was significantly lower than that in the control group, without any significant differences for the other cuts.
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