Growth Performance of Zero Grazed Sahelian x Djallonke Crossbreeds Under Probiotic Strategic Supplementation

Birth weight and growth performance of eight Sahelian x Djallonke crosses intensively managed with their feed strategically laced with a probiotic were studied at the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute’s (BNARI) animal farm from September 2008 to July 2010. The lambs recorded a mean weight of 3.59kg at birth, a pre-weaning weight gain of 87.31g/day to attain an average weaning weight of 14.03kg at 12weeks and a post weaning average daily gain of 20.98g. The ratio of lamb’s birth weight as a percentage of dam’s weight obtained for the present study was 11.06 and this was also notably very high compared to results of other studies in pure Djallonke, Nungua Blackhead and Suffolk breeds of sheep. The consistently high pre and post-weaning growth rates recorded in this study could be attributed to the effect of the strategic supplementation with the probiotic.