Lactational performance and nutrients digestibility response of dairy buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic (Streptococcus spp.) and fibrolytic enzymes.

The current study was conducted to explore the productive performance and health status of lactating buffaloes fed diets supplemented with probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes. Forty multiparous lactating Egyptian buffaloes (body weight 451 ± 8.5 kg) were equally assigned to four experimental groups: (1) the first group fed control diet, (2) second experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of probiotic/kg dry matter (DM) (probiotic), (3) third experimental group fed control diet plus 4 g of fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (enzymes) and (4) fourth experimental group fed control diet plus 2 g of probiotic + 2 g fibrolytic enzymes/kg DM (Mix), The experiment was extended for 63 days. Nutrients digestibility was estimated, daily milk yield was recorded and milk samples were analyzed for total solids, fat protein, lactose and ash. Blood serum samples were analyzed for glucose, total protein, albumin, urea-N, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and cholesterol concentrations. Results showed that adding probiotic and/or fibrolytic enzymes improved nutrients digestibility (p < 0.05). The probiotic, enzymes and mix groups did not affect (p > 0.05) concentrations of serum total protein, albumin (A), globulin (G), albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio and urea-N concentrations. An improvement in daily milk yield (p < 0.0001) and energy-corrected milk (p = 0.0146) were observed with the probiotic and mix groups compared with the control. In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing lactating buffaloes' diets with probiotic alone or in combination with fibrolytic enzymes would improve their productive performance without adversely impacting their health.

Lemongrass supplementation to Farafra ewes improved feed utilization, lactational performance and milk nutritive value in the subtropics.

Application of phytogenic feed additives in livestock production is a sustainable practice and the search for more phytogenic options continues. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of lemongrass supplementation on nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation and milk production and composition. Thirty gestating Farafra ewes were randomly assigned to three experimental treatments of control (without a supplement), or with the supplementation of 5 g (LEM5 treatment), or 10 g of lemongrass/ewe/d (LEM10 treatment) for 12 weeks. Lemongrass supplementation at both doses did not influence ( p > 0.05) nutrient intake, but improved nutrient digestibility (p < 0.05). Furthermore, LEM5 and LEM10 treatments improved (p ≤ 0.001) ruminal total volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate. Blood glucose was increased (p < 0.05) and cholesterol was decreased in ewes supplemented with lemongrass at both doses. Milk yield, energy corrected milk yield, and milk component were improved (p ≤ 0.001) in ewes supplemented with lemongrass at 5 and 10 g while the feed efficiency was decreased. Lemongrass supplementation at both doses increased (p = 0.040) the proportion of milk total conjugated linoleic acid without affecting other milk fatty acids. In most of the parameters evaluated, there was no significant difference between LEM5 and LEM10. Therefore, lemongrass supplementation at 5 g/ewe/d can be used in dairy production with positive impacts.