<i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Improves Rumen Fermentation and Growth Performance of Heat-Stressed Goats In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Clostridium butyricum on rumen fermentation and the growth performance of heat-stressed goats. The in vitro fermentation was carried out using Clostridium butyricum supplement at 0% (CG), 0.025% (CB1), 0.05% (CB2), 0.10% (CB3), and 0.20% (CB4) of the dry matter (DM) weight of basal diet. Results showed that ruminal pH and the concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, as well as the acetic acid to propionic acid ratio were significantly increased (p p Clostridium butyricum added to the basal diet, respectively. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 3 Latin square. Similar effects on rumen fermentation and digestibility parameters were obtained with 0.05% of Clostridium butyricum supplement compared to the in vitro study. Moreover, the dry matter intake and average daily gain were significantly increased (p Clostridium butyricum supplement (0.05%) could improve the rumen fermentation and growth performance of heat-stressed goats.

Keywords

• goats
• heat stress
• <i>Clostridium butyricum</i>
• rumen fermentation
• growth performance