Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Official Journal of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah

Effect of Feeding Probiotic Megasphaera Elsdenii and Sodium Bicarbonate on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites and Rumen Fermentation in Awassi Lambs

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Ramadhan nori M.Saleem 1
Hoger M. K. Hidaye 2

1 009647514421384

2 College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq

https://doi.org/10.29079/qjvms.2025.164442.1110
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of Megasphaera elsdenii (ME) probiotic and sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on growth performance ,feed efficiency,and  blood metabolites in Awassi lambs fed  concentrate diet. Eighteen lambs (15 ± 4 kg) were assigned to three treatments (6 lambs/treatment) for a 100 days period : The first group Control (no additives), The second group receiving the diet supplemented with sodium bicarbonate (SB) (10 g kg DM-1), and The third group (ME) where each lamb was dosed with a capsule containing of Megasphera elsedinii (1×10¹⁰ CFU). Dry matter intake (DMI), daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and blood metabolites (glucose, triglycerides, lactate, and blood urea nitrogen) were measured. Within the results neither SB nor ME significantly impacted Dry matter intake (DMI) or daily weight gain (DWG) versus the control (P > 0.05). However, Lambs consuming SB exhibited a significant reduction in feed conversion ratio (FCR) (7.20) as to control (5.58) and ME (5.52) (P = 0.02). All groups showed increases in blood lactate and urea nitrogen (P < 0.01) at week 12. Group of ME showed more numerical DMI at the late weeks of study, while the group of SB showed a less numerical DWG between week 9 and 12. no effects of treatments were observed on blood glucose and triglycerides (P > 0.05). It could be concluded that SB supplementation may cause adverse effects on feed efficiency in growing Awassi. ME administration results were comparable to that of control and warranting further optimization of probiotic strategies.

Keywords

Megasphaera elsdenii
sodium bicarbonate
Awassi lambs
feed conversion ratio
blood metabolites
Crossmark
Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 1
May 2026
Pages 84-93

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