Histological Study of the Effect of Adding Probiotic Bacteria Loaded on Crushed Date Seeds in the Diets of Awassi Lambs

Abstract

This study was conducted in the fields of breeding and improving sheep and goats at the Al-Dabouni research station in Al-Dabouni district, Wasit Governorate affiliated to the General Authority for Agricultural Research / Ministry of Agriculture, from 8/2/2022 to 7/6/2022. A total of 24 male Awassi lambs, aged between 4-5 months, were used (4 from Al-Mahatta lambs and 20 purchased from a breeder in Jassan district), average starting weight (24,583 ± 0.25) kg, they were randomly distributed into six equal groups (4 lambs per group) and fed on daily diets for a period of 18 weeks, as follows: T1: negative control; T2: positive control; T3: the lambs were fed a diet containing 10% crushed date seeds, loaded with Bacillus subtilis as a probiotic; T4: the lambs were fed a diet containing 10% crushed date seeds, loaded with Lactobacillus acidophilus as a probiotic; T5: the lambs were fed a diet containing 10% crushed date seeds, loaded with Bifidobacterium bifidum as a probiotic; T6: the lambs were fed a diet containing 10% crushed date seeds, loaded with Streptococcus thermophiles as a probiotic. The results of the current study indicated T4 revealed enlarged muscle fibers with copious cytoplasm and few fibers in the field due to the large size of the fibers. T5 showed epithelial hyperplasia of the rumen mucosal epithelium, T6 hyperplasia of the mucous epithelium of the rumen in this group with marked thickening of the epithelium and an increase in epithelial cells