Effect of salinomycin or virginiamycin as feed additives on sheep performance

Abstract EN

Both salinomycin and virginiamycin as feed additives in ruminant's diet were nutritionally evaluated through digestibility and feeding trials.

Eighteen growing Ossimi lambs, averaging 11.6 ± 0.31 kg in live body weight were assigned on three diets.

The diets were (D1) control, (D2) control + 12 ppm salinomycin, and (D3) control + 36 ppm virginiamycin.

The control ration consisted of 75 % concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + 25% rice straw (RS).

Significant differences (P < 0.05) for the final body weight gain between control diet (D1) and other two diets were recorded.

Insignificant differences were observed between the control diet (D1) and the other two diets containing salinomycin (D2) or virginiamycin (D3) in total dry matter intake (TDMI) or average dry matter intake, g/day (ADMI, g / day), while the digested crude protein (DCP) values recorded for D2 and D3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those for D1.

Insignificant differences were observed in OM, CF, NFE and EE digestibility coefficients between treatments, but the crude protein digestibility (CPD), values were significantly different (P < 0.05) for D2 and D3 compared to the D1.

Insignificant differences for TDN and SV were recorded.

Concerning the economical evaluation, D2 or D3 were very similar and recorded clear advantage comparing to the D1.