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A study on 123 Tabasco sheep of 29.700 kg average body weight was conducted during 60 d. Animals were fed with maize silage and divided in three treatments: T1, 40 sheep were feed normal maize silage. Sheep in T2 (n=40) were offered lactic maize silage (SL). T3 (n=40) were fed with SL and 150 g/d/animal of slow intake nitrogen supplement (SNLC). SL was prepared with a probiotic (lactic bacteria culture). One cannulated sheep per treatment was used for ruminal physiology trials. DM digestibility increased from 50.22% (T1) to 72.51% and 84.16% in T2 and T3, respectively. T3 presented the highest ruminal NH3 concentration (71.9 mg/100mi). Fibre potential digestibility augmented from 41% (T1), to 77% (T3) (P<0.05). True digestibility increased from 29% (T1) to 39% (T2) and 49% (T3). The apparent dry matter intake (g/kg PV0.75) was 90, 120 and 135 for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Nitrogen digestibility increased from 56% (T1) to 86% (T3). Purine derivatives increased in the probiotic diets (P<0.05). Body weight gains were 0.174 kg/d (T1), 0.272 kg/d (T2) and 0.295 kg/d (T3) (P<0.05). Slow intake nitrogen supplements improve sheep diets and their productivity. Lactic silage and probiotics in sheep diets improved significantly the degradation of plant cell walls and ruminal microbial protein production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]