Formulation and evaluation of probiotics supplemented milk replacers in preweaning preweaning Barbari kids

Abstract

The effect of different milk replacers (MR) was studied on nutrient intake, rumen fermentation and growth performance in 32 kids ofBarbari breed. They were divided equally into 4 groups based on their body weight at birth. Three isocaloric milk replacers having 20% (MR1 ), 24% (MR) and 28% (MR3 ) crude protein (CP) were formulated with skim milk powder, soybean-meal, wheat flour, coconut oil and mineral mixture. 0.2 ml butyric acid, 2 g citric acid and 1sachet of probiotics (Lactobacillus sporogens) powder containing 1.5x 108 spores were added per kg of each replacer powder. Animals under T1 (control) were fed with mother's milk as per feeding schedule. Animals under T2, T3 and T4 were offered with above replacers having 20,24 and 28% CP, respectively, with gradual replacement of mother's milk. The total DM intake was higher than 3% of body weight in pre-weaned Barbari kids tested under replacer feeding. Final body weight (at 13 weeks of age) and average daily gain (ADG) were 9.10,8.29,8.29 and 8.50 kg; and 74.28,59.64, 65.45 and 67.81 g in the respective 4 treatment groups (T1 to T4 ). Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was better in milk fed kids (27.76%), however, kids were maintained well in MR2replacer fed group (T) (FCE, 24.70%) and up to 24% CP containing replacer was cheaper than mother's milk. No mortality ofkids was recorded due to milk replacer feeding. The replacer having 24% CP can be used safely for early growing kids (2-13 weeks old) having insufficient accessibility to mother's milk (poor yielder) and having higher multiple birth rate.