Postprandial Changes in Rumen Microflora and Fermentation Pattern in Sheep Fed Paddy Straw Based Complete Feed Supplemented with Probiotics Mix

G. G. Sheikh; Danish Masood; Shakil A. Bhat; A. M. Ganai; Yasir Afzal; Shabir  Mir

Authors

G. G. Sheikh Division of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
Danish Masood Division of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
Shakil A. Bhat Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
A. M. Ganai Division of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
Yasir Afzal Division of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA
Shabir Mir Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Jammu and Kashmir, INDIA

Keywords:

Fermentation Parameters, Lambs, Postprandial, Probiotics Mix, Rumen microbes

Abstract

A study was undertaken to evaluate effect of feeding probiotics mix (Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2×10¹⁰cfu/g + Lactobacillus acidophilus 6×10⁹cfu/g) in equal ratio in paddy straw based complete feed @ 3 % of DM, as per the in vitro studies carried to arrive at optimum level of incorporation, on rumen microbial count and fermentation parameters, while complete feed without probiotics served as control. The mean values of total bacterial, fibrolytic bacteria (Fibrobacter succinogenes), fungi and protozoa count showed significantly (P<0.01) higher value at 0h feeding (before feeding) and lowest value at 2 h post feeding with increasing trend thereafter upto 8 h post feeding, irrespective of treatment. Rumen microbes showed significantly (P<0.01) higher counts for probiotics mix supplemented groups than in un-supplemented group. However, regarding methanogens nonsignificant difference was observed between probiotics mix supplemented groups than control.