Milk yield and composition from ewes fed diets containing narasin and their lambs’ performance

The changes promoted by feed additives in ruminal fermentation, especially increasing the availability of propionate, can improve the energy balance of an animal, which is of great importance in the lactation period. This trial aimed to evaluate the inclusion of narasin in the diet of lactating ewes on milk yield, composition, dry matter intake (DMI), and plasma metabolites of the ewes and growth rate of lambs. Thirty-two lactating ewes (59.0 ± 2.42 kg) were assigned to a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets contained 500 g/kg of dry matter (DM) of coast cross (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers) hay and 500 g/kg DM of concentrate, and the treatments were: N0—no narasin inclusion; N13—inclusion of 13 mg of narasin/kg DM. Once a week, from week 2 to 10 of lactation, ewes were separated from their lambs, injected with oxytocin, and milked mechanically to empty the udder. After 3 h, the milk production was recorded, using the same procedure, and sampled to evaluate the composition. The blood samples were taken weekly, 4 h after feeding. The average daily gain (ADG) and starter DMI of the lambs were evaluated weekly from week 2 to 12 of age. The inclusion of narasin did not affect (P = 0.93) DMI of ewes; however, it increased milk production (P < 0.01) and feed efficiency (P = 0.02; FE). Ewes fed N13 had a greater milk fat (P < 0.01), protein (P < 0.01), lactose (P = 0.04), and total solids production (P < 0.01). Narasin inclusion in ewe’s diet increased plasma glucose concentration (P = 0.05) at weeks 8, 9 and 10; however, there was no effect on plasma urea concentration (P = 0.96). The lambs of N0 ewes had a greater starter DMI (P < 0.01) at weeks 7, 8, 9, and 10; however, the ADG and body weight at weaning and after weaning were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). The results showed that the inclusion of 13 mg of narasin/kg DM improved the milk production and FE of the ewes without altering the composition of the milk. The lower initial consumption of concentrate by N13 lambs before weaning was caused by the higher production of milk. The results obtained in the present study demonstrate the possible productive gain with the inclusion of narasin in diets for lactating ewes.