LOPEZ, Y; ARECE, J; OJEDA, F    MOLINA, M. Use of the Sorbifauna probiotic in the growth of confined lambs. []. , 37, 1, pp. 61-64. ISSN 0864-0394.

A study was conducted under production conditions, in order to evaluate the effect exerted by the inclusion of the Sorbifauna probiotic on the growth of confined lambs. Eighty Pelibuey lambs were divided into two experimental groups of 40 animals each: control (C) and probiotic group (PG) through a completely randomized design. The variation of the live weight (LW) and the mean daily gain (MDG) were determined. The data were processed by means of the SPSS® program, version 15.0 for Windows®. The probiotic exerted a significant effect (p < 0,05) on the LW of the lambs, from 60 days of age until weaning (6,94; 7,23; 7,82 and 8,44 kg vs. 7,74; 8,56; 9,30 and 9,54 kg after 60, 75 and 90 days and at weaning, for C and PG, respectively). The LW values for the males and females differed significantly (p < 0,05) between the treatments, from 60 days of age and until weaning (8,62 vs. 9,74 kg for the males and 8,26 vs. 9,35 kg for the females, in C and PG, respectively). Significant differences (p < 0,05) were also observed in MDG (123,7 vs. 101,1 g/animal/day) and in mortality (2,6 vs. 8,6 %) with the best performance in the PG treatment. It is concluded that the inclusion of the Sorbifauna probiotic from 60 days of age, had a marked effect on lamb growth, independently from the sex.

: weight gain; weight at weaning; weight at birth.

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