Growth performance and ruminal fermentation of lambs supplemented with calcium propionate: A meta-analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation on growth performance and ruminal fermentation of lambs using a meta-analytic method. The data used were obtained from 10 peer-reviewed publications. The effect size was assessed using weighted mean differences (WMD) between CaPr supplementation and control treatments. Dietary supplementation with CaPr did not affect (P > 0.05) dry matter intake, hot carcass yield, Longissimus dorsi muscle area, rumen pH, and butyrate concentration, but it increased average daily gain (WMD = 0.012 kg/d; P = 0.022), and ruminal concentration of total volatile fatty acids (WMD = 6.633 mM; P = 0.022) and propionate (WMD = 4.443 mol /100 mol; P < 0.001). In contrast, a lower feed conversion ratio (WMD = −0.288 kg/kg; P = 0.029) and ruminal acetate concentration (WMD = −3.319 mol/100 mol; P < 0.001) were observed in response to CaPr supplementation. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of calcium propionate can be used as a nutritional strategy to improve growth rate and ruminal fermentation in fattening lambs.