Effect of Lactobacillus Supplementation and Increased Fiber Level on Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Growing Pups

Eight Mongrel pups of about 10 weeks age (body weight, 5.2 kg) were distributed in two equal groups to study the effect of probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, strain-15) (phase 1) and increased fiber level (phase 2) on their nutrient utilization and growth performance in two consecutive periods. The dogs were fed on complete diet (biscuit) ad libitum. The biscuit contained 25 per cent and 18–20 per cent DCP, 89 and 81–89 per cent TDN with a calculated ME: DCP ratio of 13.89 and 17.3–17.6 kcal/g DM during the two phases, respectively. Lactobacillus supplementation stimulated appetite and induced higher daily gain (119g vs 105g) in animals up to four months age, which became insignificant in the later period. In phase 2, an increase in fibre level (8.2% vs 3.5%) did not have any adverse effect on voluntary feed intake of animals. A significant reduction in digestibility and energy components of the diet decreased its ME value (3.17 vs 3.44 kcal/g DM), which ultimately affected the live weight gain (49 vs 62 g/day) in animals on high fibre diet. The pattern of DM intake during first 9 weeks of experiment was doubles that of DM requirement for adult maintenance type does and then it declined to reach 22–30 g/day during the later part of experiment. It may be concluded that supplementation of L. acidophillus has beneficial effect in growing DUDS up to 4–5 months age and a fiber level of up to 8 per cent is not adverse to voluntary feed intake and thus may be advocated in the diet of adult dogs.