Effect of Probiotic Supplementation Shortly before and after Weaning on Growth of Turkish Saanen Kids

Abstract

Sixteen kids were assigned at an average of 6 weeks of age to two treatments: control with no supplementation and 5 g/kid of probiotic supplementation daily. The probiotic was resuspended in distilled water and given orally every day in the morning throughout a 42 d study. Grower concentrate, vetch hay and water were offered ad libitum throughout the study. Kids were abruptly weaned 14 days after the initiation of the study and received only grower concentrate, vetch hay and water ad libitum from d 15 to 42. The supplementation of probiotic did not result in any significant differences in weight gain, nutrient intake, feed efficiency and diarrhea score in kids. However a positive trend toward improved weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency in kids supplemented with probiotic suggested that probiotic might improve growth and performance of kids and are worth further investigation.