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Comparative effects of direct-fed microbials alone or with a trace minerals supplements on the productive performance, blood metabolites, and antioxidant status in grazing Awassi lambs

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Abstract

Twenty Awassi lambs were used to find the effects of direct-fed microbials (DFM) and long-acting trace minerals rumen bolus (TMB) supplements on performance, blood biochemical variables, and antioxidant status of the lambs under grazing conditions. The lambs were randomly distributed into four groups as follows: (1) untreated, (2) oral dose of 5 mL DFM, (3) TMB, or (4) oral dose of 5 mL DFM and TMB. The treatments were carried out for 90 days. Supplementation with TMB significantly increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency compared with the control. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in blood albumin in the DFM and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in aspartate aminotrasferase were found in the lambs supplemented with TMB alone or in combination with DFM. Supplementing lambs with TMB resulted in higher glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.001) and activity of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) compared with no supplementation and supplementation with DFM only. In conclusion, TMB supplementation had a positive impact on performance traits and the antioxidant system of the lambs under grazing condition.

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Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through research project No RG-1436-021. The authors thank Dr. A. Jar Alnabi and Mr. R. Amran for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    I. A. Alhidary, M. M. Abdelrahman & R. U. Khan

  2. Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

    R. U. Khan

Authors
  1. I. A. Alhidary
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  2. M. M. Abdelrahman
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  3. R. U. Khan
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Correspondence to I. A. Alhidary.

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All procedures in this study were strictly followed under the Regulations of the Law of Ethics of Research on Living Creatures (Saudi Arabia National Committee of Bio Ethics), approved by the King Saud University Animal Ethics Committee.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Alhidary, I.A., Abdelrahman, M.M. & Khan, R.U. Comparative effects of direct-fed microbials alone or with a trace minerals supplements on the productive performance, blood metabolites, and antioxidant status in grazing Awassi lambs. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 25218–25223 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7684-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7684-z

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