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Simple Summary: Previous works showed that supplementation of lysophospholipid as a feed additive improves animal growth and milk yield in beef and dairy cattle production. However, its effects on fattening lambs have not been reported before. In this study, we fed fattening lambs a diet with no or 0.5 g lysophospholipid in a kilogram of diet. We found that lysophospholipid did not or slightly improved the growth of fattening lambs. Feed digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters and rumen bacterial community were altered, which may be associated with decreased fiber digestion. However, lipase concentration in serum was decreased, which might enhance fat deposition in muscle and thus may increase meat quality. Effects of lysophospholipid on sheep observed in this study are different from those on cattle, which warrants further study. Five experiments were conducted to examine effects of lysophospholipids (LPL) on live weight gain, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, serum biochemical parameters and rumen bacterial community profile in fattening lambs. Two dietary treatments (pelleted complete feed supplemented without (control diet; CON) or with 0.05% LPL on dry matter basis) were tested in these experiments. Feed and water were provided ad libitum to lambs. The results showed that average daily gain (ADG) tended to increase or was not affected by LPL supplementation. Compared with CON, the supplementation of LPL resulted in an increase in dry matter, crude protein and organic matter digestibilities, and a decrease in neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibilities. Ruminal pH values did not change with LPL supplementation, but the concentrations of ammonia and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were increased. The molar proportion of major individual SCFAs and the ratio of acetate to propionate were not affected by LPL supplementation. While the activity of lipase was decreased with LPL supplementation, all other serum biochemical parameters did not change. Rumen bacterial community was altered by LPL supplementation with the relative abundance of fibrolytic bacteria in the total bacterial population, such as Prevotella, decreased. In conclusion, LPL supplementation can alter feed digestion, but may not result in consistent positive responses in animal growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agglomerated live yeast (LY) had a survival rate of 54% after pelleting. • The supplementation of agglomerated LY into pelleted total mixed rations (TMR) increased average daily gain by 36 g/d in lambs. • Agglomerated LY increased the nutrient digestibility of pelleted TMR. • Agglomerated LY is feasible to supplement to pelleted TMR for lamb fattening. Agglomerating live yeast (LY; Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is an emerging manufacturing technique to protect viability during the process of feed pelleting. This study aimed to examine the survival rate of agglomerated LY supplemented into total mixed rations after pelleting and effects of the supplement on animal performance and feed digestion. The study was conducted in a 2 × 2 factorial design with two experimental factors and two levels in each factor: the proportion of corn in the diet (350 g/kg diet as fed for low corn versus 600 g/kg diet as fed for high corn) and the absence or presence (0.8 g/kg diet as fed) of agglomerated LY in the diet, to form four dietary treatments. After adaptation to pelleted total mixed rations and housing conditions, fifty-six 3-month-old male lambs with a bodyweight of 19.9 ± 2.7 kg (mean ± s. d.) were randomly assigned to the four dietary treatments (n = 14 per treatment). The survival rate of agglomerated LY was 54% after pelleting. The supplementation of LY resulted in 36 g/d greater average daily gain regardless of the proportion of corn in the diet (P = 0.007). The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre increased by 38, 41, 193, and 122 g/kg, respectively, with the supplementation of LY (P ≤ 0.007). In conclusion, agglomerated LY can be feasibly supplemented as a feed additive to pelleted total mixed rations for fattening lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]