Effect of Synbiotic on Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Fecal Microbial Population and Blood Metabolites of Suckling Lambs

The effects of synbiotic supplementation to the Moghani suckling lambs diet were investigated using 18 lambs (initial BW 5-6 kg, age 3±2 day) were divided into 3 groups and fed experimental diets for 90 days. The dietary treatments were: 1) control (lambs were fed with mother’s milk, along with their normal diets), 2) control + 3 g of synbiotic and control and 3) control + 6 g of synbiotic for each lamb per day. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured monthly throughout the experimental period. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the experiment. Intestinal microflora was assessed monthly in feces, assaying for coliform bacteria, total aerobics and lactic acid bacteria. Also, at the end of study 4 lambs were slaughtered for assaying intestinal morphology changes. The lambs that fed 3 g synbiotic had a higher BW, greater BWG, increased FI and a better FCR compared to the control diet although the differences not statistically significant. Supplementation with 3 g symbiotic significantly reduced (P<0.05) serum cholesterol levels. Fecal coliform bacteria were reduced and lactic acid bacteria increased by supplementation. The results indicate that synbiotic can be used as a growth promoter in suckling lamb’s diets and can improve their gut health.