Effects of the administration of Lactobacilli on body growth and on the metabolic profile in growing Maltese goat kids

Abstract – The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of some lactobacilli on body growth and on the metabolic-nutritional status in growing goat kids. Twenty growing Maltese goat kids (10 Control and 10 Bios) were studied. The animals of the Bios group received a concentrate including 1 g•kg–1 of SEB Bovino® (spray-dried), Akron S.r.l., Italy, with non bacterial components: gum arabic, soybean meal, silicate alum of magnesium, and with bacterial components: 1011 cfu•kg–1 each of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri. Monthly, bio-metric and weight evaluations were carried out on each animal and individual blood samples were taken. The Bios group showed the highest body weight (Control 19 vs. Bios 23 kg P < 0.001), anamorphosis (Control 71 vs. Bios 78 P < 0.05) and body proportion (Control 35 vs. Bios 41 P < 0.001) indices; the lowest levels of Non Esterified Fatty Acids (Control 0.778 vs. Bios 0.403 mmol•L–1 P < 0.001), triglycerides (Control 0.21 vs. Bios 0.18 mmol•L–1 P < 0.05), urea (Control 8.83 vs. Bios 7.65 mmol•L–1 P < 0.05) and the highest levels of Alkaline Phosphatase (Control 270 vs. Bios 851 U•L–1 P < 0.01) and Creatine Kinase (Control 173 vs. Bios 285 U•L–1 P < 0.01). The results testify to the better metabolic activity of the Bios group which achieved, at the end of the trial (7 months old), about 99% of the morphological development of the adult, therefore an adequate structure for mating and going into production within the first year of life.