日粮精粗比对山羊生长性能和屠宰性能的影响

本试验旨在研究日粮精粗比对山羊生长发育和屠宰性能的影响。18只青年关中奶山羊随机等分为3组;分别饲喂精粗比为31∶69(低)、54∶46(中)和65∶35(高)的3种日粮,各日粮粗蛋白含量相同。结果表明,日增重随精粗比的增加而提高(P<0.05﹚,高精粗比日粮显著提高饲料利用效率(P<0.05﹚,精粗比不影响胃黏膜总重﹑瘤胃和小肠黏膜重量以及胴体重和屠宰率(P>0.05﹚,中等精粗比日粮显著提高皱胃重量(P<0.05﹚。     

不同精粗比饲粮对牦牛瘤胃内环境的影响

旨在研究不同精粗比饲粮对西藏牦牛瘤胃内环境的影响.选取3周岁、平均体重(154.8±13.6)kg、健康无病的牦牛20头随机分为低精料组和高精料组,每组10头,公母各半,分别饲喂低精料(精粗比40∶60)和高精料(精粗比60 ∶ 40)饲粮,预试期10d,正试期90d(8、9和10月).结果:饲粮精料水平的提高显著降低...     

丝兰提取物与日粮精粗比对体外发酵和甲烷产生量的交互影响

试验旨在研究家畜饲料中添加丝兰提取物与饲料的不同精粗比对家畜甲烷产生量的影响。本研究包含4个试验，以研究丝兰提取物与日粮精粗比对体外发酵甲烷产生量的交互影响。试验1、2、3：在低精粗比日粮（精粗比为10∶90）、中精粗比日粮（精粗比为50∶50）和高精粗比日粮（精粗比为90∶10）中分别加入0、55、110、220、440 mg/kg丝兰提取物。试验4：在低、中和高精粗比日粮发酵底物里加丝兰提取物110 mg/kg）。结果表明：(1)试验1、2和3，在低、中和高精粗比日粮中，均是110 mg/kg丝兰提取物对甲烷的抑制效果最明显（P<0.05），过量的丝兰提取物（440 mg/kg）会降低气体产量、增加延迟时间（P<0.05）；(2)试验4，在影响甲烷产生和瘤胃发酵方面，丝兰提取物和精粗比之间没有交互作用（P>0.10）。说明丝兰提取物能显著抑制不同精粗比日粮的体外甲烷产生量，最佳添加量均为110 mg/kg。     

不同精粗比饲粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌对绵羊羔羊生长性能和消化代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究不同精粗比条件下饲粮添加凝结芽孢杆菌(BC)对绵羊羔羊生长性能和消化代谢的影响。试验采用2×2因子完全随机设计,2个因素分别为精粗比[40∶60(低精料)、70∶30(高精料)]和BC[不添加和添加1.0×1010CFU/kg BC]。选取48只4月龄的杜泊×小尾寒羊F1代公羔,按体重随机分为4个组,分别饲喂低精料饲粮(LD组)、添加BC低精料饲粮(LD+BC组)、高精料饲粮(HD组)、添加BC高精料饲粮(HD+BC组),每组12只。生长性能试验共计70 d,其中预试期10 d,正试期60 d;消化代谢试验共计7 d,其中适应期4 d,取样期3 d。结果显示：1)24只饲喂高精料饲粮羔羊的末重(FBW)和平均日增重(ADG)显著或极显著高于24只饲喂低精料饲粮羔羊(P<0.05或P<0.01),并且料重比(F/G)极显著低于24只饲喂低精料饲粮羔羊(P<0.01);24只饲喂添加BC饲粮羔羊的ADG显著高于24只饲喂不添加BC饲粮羔羊(P<0.05)。2)24只饲喂高精料饲粮羔羊对干物质(DM)、有机物(OM)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)的表观消化率极...     

不同精粗比饲粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌对绵羊羔羊瘤胃发酵和免疫功能的影响

本试验旨在研究不同精粗比饲粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌（BC）对绵羊羔羊生长性能、瘤胃发酵和免疫功能的影响。试验采用2×2双因子完全随机设计,2个因素分别为精粗比[40∶60（低精料）、70∶30（高精料）]和BC[不添加和添加1.0×1010CFU/kg BC]。选取48只体重相近的4月龄杜泊×小尾寒羊F1代公羔,随机分为4个组,分别饲喂低精料饲粮（LD组）、添加BC的低精料饲粮（LD+BC组）、高精料饲粮（HD组）、添加BC的高精料饲粮（HD+BC组）,每组12只。预试期10 d,正试期60 d。结果显示：1)24只饲喂高精料饲粮的羔羊瘤胃内pH,氨态氮、乙酸、异丁酸浓度以及乙丙比值显著低于24只饲喂低精料饲粮的羔羊（P<0.05）,丙酸、戊酸和总挥发性脂肪酸浓度显著高于24只饲喂低精料饲粮的羔羊（P<0.05）;24只饲喂添加BC饲粮的羔羊瘤胃内丙酸浓度显著高于24只饲喂未添加BC饲粮的羔羊（P<0.05）。饲粮精粗比和BC之间在瘤胃发酵参数上不存在显著的交互作用（P>0.05）。2)24只饲喂高精料饲粮的羔羊瘤胃内淀粉酶和蛋白酶活性显著高于24只饲喂低精料饲粮的...     

饲粮精粗比对南江黄羊瘤胃体外发酵的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮不同精粗比对南江黄羊瘤胃体外发酵的影响。试验以3只装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的健康南江黄羊[平均体重为(25.48±1.48)kg]作为瘤胃液供体动物,采用单因素试验设计,试验饲粮精粗比分别为10∶90(10C组)、30∶70(30C组)、50∶50(50C组)、70∶30(70C组)、90∶10(90C组)。结果表明:随着饲粮精粗比的提高,培养液中pH逐渐下降,发酵后70C、90C组均显著低于10C、30C组(P<0.05);精粗比对氨态氮浓度和总挥发性脂肪酸浓度影响不显著(P>0.05);微生物蛋白浓度随着精粗比的提高逐渐升高,其中90C组显著高于其他4组(P<0.05);有机物发酵率随着精粗比的提高显著提高(P<0.05);乙酸与丙酸的比值随着精粗比的提高逐渐下降。由此可知,本试验条件下,高精料饲粮对南江黄羊体外发酵有显著的影响,随着精料比例的升高,微生物蛋白合成量增加,瘤胃发酵的能量利用效率提高。     

日粮精粗比对藏羔羊增重的影响

试验旨在研究日粮精粗比对羔羊增重的影响,为育肥羔羊日粮合理配制提供理论依据。选择90只2月龄藏羔羊,随机分为3组,分别饲喂精粗比为7∶3、6∶4和5∶5的3种日粮,试验期120 d。结果表明,羔羊日增重随日粮精粗比的提高而增加(P<0.01),提高日粮精粗比能有效提高饲料利用效率,精粗比为7∶3的日粮饲喂藏羔羊经济效益较好。     

不同精粗比饲粮中添加壳聚糖对体外瘤胃发酵甲烷产量和发酵特性的影响

本试验旨在利用长期人工瘤胃系统——Rusitec系统研究不同精粗比饲粮中添加壳聚糖对体外瘤胃发酵甲烷产量和发酵特性的影响。采用2×2两因子试验设计,2个因子分别为饲粮精粗比[30∶70(低精料饲粮)和70∶30(高精料饲粮)]和是否添加壳聚糖(0和1 500 mg/罐),共构成4组,每组4个重复。结果表明:与低精料饲粮相比,高精料饲粮显著降低了甲烷产量,中性洗涤纤维和粗蛋白质的降解率,发酵液乙酸和丁酸含量、乙酸/丙酸、氨氮浓度(P<0.05),显著提高了总产气量和丙酸含量(P<0.05);添加壳聚糖显著降低了甲烷产量和总产气量、粗蛋白质的降解率、发酵液乙酸和丁酸含量、乙酸/丙酸、氨氮浓度(P<0.05),显著提高了丙酸含量(P<0.05);在甲烷产量和总产气量,粗蛋白质的降解率,0、6 h发酵液氨氮浓度,0、12 h发酵液乙酸/丙酸上,2个因子存在互作(P<0.05),高精料饲粮中添加壳聚糖对甲烷产量和总产气量、粗蛋白质降解率、发酵液氨氮浓度的降低幅度大于低精料饲粮,对总挥发性脂肪酸浓度和乙酸/丙酸的降低幅度小于低精料饲粮。以上结果表明,改变饲粮的精粗比和添加壳聚糖均能够改变瘤胃发酵模式,且二者之间存在互作,壳聚糖在精粗比为70∶30的饲粮中添加效果优于精粗比为30∶70的饲粮。     

长期饲喂高精料日粮对泌乳期山羊血液生化参数及组织中糖代谢相关基因表达的影响

为了研究长期饲喂高精料日粮对泌乳期山羊血液生化指标和糖代谢的影响,选择8只安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的健康经产泌乳中期山羊,分别饲喂精粗比为40∶60 (low concentrate, LC,n=4) 和60∶40 (high concentrate, HC,n=4)的日粮。实验期共8周,实验期间采集瘤胃液,血液;实验结束时采集肝脏,肌肉,脂肪组织置于液氮速冻后于-70℃保存待测。结果显示,饲喂高精料日粮2周后山羊瘤胃液pH显著降低,采食后瘤胃液pH持续低于5.8超过3 h,8周后瘤胃液pH升高维持在6.0以上,但仍低于LC组山羊。与LC组山羊相比较,HC组山羊血液中葡萄糖、游离脂肪酸含量均升高(P<0.05,P=0.071),谷草转氨酶含量有上升的趋势(0.05相似文献   

不同精粗比全混合日粮对努比亚山羊生长性能、血清生化指标及瘤胃发酵参数的影响

试验旨在研究不同精粗比全混合日粮对努比亚山羊生长性能、血清生化指标及瘤胃发酵参数的影响。选取2月龄平均体重为（16.08±0.35） kg努比亚山羊48只，随机分为3组，每组16重复，每个重复1只羊。A组、B组、C组山羊分别饲喂精粗比为6∶4、5∶5、4∶6的全混合日粮。试验期60 d。结果表明，A组山羊的末重和平均日增重显著高于C组（P<0.05），料重比低于B组和C组（P>0.05）。A组山羊血清尿素氮（BUN）含量显著低于C组（P<0.05），葡萄糖（GLU）含量显著高于C组（P<0.05）。A组山羊瘤胃总挥发性脂肪酸、乙酸、丁酸、异戊酸及氨态氮含量显著高于B组和C组（P<0.05），瘤胃pH值显著低于B组和C组（P<0.05）。研究表明，日粮精粗比为6∶4时，可以增加努比亚山羊瘤胃内挥发性脂肪酸含量，提高生长性能。     

饲养方式对滩羊羔羊肌肉及脂肪组织中脂肪酸组成的影响

为探究饲养方式对滩羊羔羊肌肉和脂肪组织中脂肪酸组成的影响,试验选择24只健康且体重相近（14.16 kg±0.58 kg）的2月龄滩羊羔羊随机分成舍饲组和放牧组,每组12只,于4月龄屠宰取其背最长肌、股二头肌、膈肌、皮下脂肪、肾周脂肪、尾部脂肪,用气相色谱仪测定脂肪酸含量。结果表明：①在肌肉组织饱和脂肪酸中,与放牧组相比,舍饲组滩羊羔羊股二头肌丁酸、棕榈酸含量显著提高（P<0.05）,膈肌辛酸、月桂酸、肉豆蔻酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）。在肌肉组织不饱和脂肪酸中,与放牧组比较,舍饲组滩羊羔羊背最长肌棕榈油酸、花生四烯酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）,γ-亚麻酸、α-亚麻酸含量显著提高（P<0.05）,二十碳五烯酸（EPA）、n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（n-3 PUFA）极显著提高（P<0.01）;股二头肌花生四烯酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）,十七碳一烯酸、α-亚麻酸、EPA、n-3 PUFA含量极显著提高（P<0.01）;膈肌棕榈油酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）。②在脂肪组织饱和脂肪酸中,与放牧组比较,舍饲滩羊羔羊皮下脂肪十一碳酸、十五碳酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）,十三碳酸含量极显著降低（P<0.01）;肾周脂肪葵酸、肉豆蔻酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）,丁酸、硬脂酸含量极显著提高（P<0.01）;尾脂十一碳酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）。在脂肪组织不饱和脂肪酸中,与放牧组比较,舍饲滩羊羔羊皮下脂肪十八碳二烯酸含量极显著提高（P<0.01）,肉豆蔻油酸、棕榈油酸、γ-亚麻酸含量极显著降低（P<0.01）;肾周脂肪十八碳一烯酸、α-亚麻酸、n-3PUFA含量显著提高（P<0.05）,肉豆蔻油酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）,十七碳一烯酸、二十碳二烯酸、十八碳二烯酸含量极显著提高（P<0.01）;尾脂肉豆蔻油酸、棕榈油酸含量显著降低（P<0.05）,十八碳二烯酸含量极显著提高（P<0.01）。综上,不同饲养方式对滩羊羔羊肌肉和脂肪组织脂肪酸含量存在一定影响,舍饲滩羊羔羊股二头肌中饱和脂肪酸含量及肾周脂肪中不饱和脂肪酸含量显著高于放牧滩羊羔羊。     

丁酸梭菌对高胆碱饮食小鼠血浆游离脂肪酸组成的影响

【目的】分析丁酸梭菌对高胆碱饮食造成脂代谢异常小鼠血浆游离脂肪酸组成(FFA)的影响,以阐明丁酸梭菌调节高胆碱膳食脂代谢的作用机制。【方法】选取4周龄健康的雄性昆明小鼠24只,随机分为3组:正常组、模型组和丁酸梭菌组,每组8只。高胆碱饮食造模8周后,给药7 d,禁食12 h,采集血浆、肝脏、附睾脂肪垫和肾周脂肪,对肝脏、脂肪称重,利用生化仪检测血脂水平;通过HE染色及油红O染色分别观察肝脏组织结构变化及脂滴沉积程度;利用液相色谱-质谱联用(LC-MS)技术检测小鼠血浆氧化三甲胺(TMAO)含量;利用气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术及多元统计分析研究血浆中FFA组成。【结果】与模型组相比,丁酸梭菌组小鼠体重、脂肪增长得到显著抑制(P＜0.05),给予丁酸梭菌后小鼠肝脏脂肪沉积减少;丁酸梭菌显著或极显著降低了高胆碱饮食小鼠血浆中甘油三酯(TG)和低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)含量(P＜0.05;P＜0.01),并使高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)含量显著升高(P＜0.05);丁酸梭菌灌胃后,高胆碱饮食小鼠血浆TMAO浓度显著降低(P＜0.05);丁酸梭菌可显著降低高胆碱饮食小鼠血浆中棕榈酸(C16∶0)、硬脂酸(C18∶0)等饱和脂肪酸(SFA)含量,显著降低单不饱脂肪酸(MUFA)中棕榈烯酸(C16∶1)、油酸(C18∶1 N9c)含量,显著升高多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)中n-3型PUFA含量,其中二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)含量显著升高,n-6型PUFA中亚油酸(C18∶2 N6c)、γ-亚麻酸(C18∶3 N6)含量显著降低(P＜0.05)。此外,丁酸梭菌还显著降低了血浆中反油酸(C18∶1 N9t)、反亚油酸(C18∶2 N6t)含量(P＜0.05)。【结论】服用丁酸梭菌可调节高胆碱饮食小鼠游离脂肪酸组成及血浆TMAO含量,改善其脂代谢紊乱。     

Fatty acid and energy metabolism in broiler chickens fed diets containing either beef tallow or an oil blend

The hypothesis tested was that the feeding of n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) results in more whole‐body fatty acid oxidation than the feeding of saturated fatty acids (SFA). It was reasoned that the increased fatty acid oxidation would be associated with enhanced whole‐body energy expenditure and stimulated de novo fatty acid synthesis. To put the hypothesis to the test, broiler chickens were fed diets containing either beef tallow as source of SFA or an oil blend as source of n‐6 PUFA. The broilers either had free access to their diet or were fed a restricted amount. Seven‐day‐old, male broiler chickens were used; they were kept individually in cages from 1 to 4 weeks of age. In the birds fed ad libitum, the n‐6 PUFA diet reduced average daily feed intake (ADFI), but did not significantly affect average daily weight gain (ADG) and the feed:conversion ratio (FCR). The lower ADFI on the n‐6 PUFA diet was associated with a higher apparent digestibility of total fatty acids. The ratio of deposition in the body to intake of digestible total PUFA, which reflected n‐6 PUFA, was significantly decreased by the n‐6 PUFA diet, pointing at preferentially increased n‐6 PUFA oxidation on the n‐6 PUFA diet. The ratio for n‐9 monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) was higher than 1.0, which agrees with net de novo synthesis, but the n‐6 PUFA diet induced a lower value than did the SFA diet. Feeding either the n‐6 PUFA or SFA diet did not influence energy expenditure expressed as percentage of energy intake. This study supports the idea that dietary n‐6 PUFA instead of SFA are preferentially oxidized, but no proof was obtained for enhanced energy expenditure and contrary to the hypothesis put forward, the n‐6 PUFA diet depressed de‐novo fatty acid synthesis.     

Effects of dietary canola seed and soy lecithin in high-forage diets on cholesterol content and fatty acid composition of carcass tissues of growing ram lambs.

Phospholipids (soy lecithin) are important in the emulsification of lipids and may escape the rumen and influence the absorption of fatty acids in the small intestine. Our objectives were to determine the influence of dietary canola seed (high in unsaturated fatty acids) and soy lecithin in high-forage diets on total lipid content, cholesterol content, and fatty acid composition of carcass tissues. Forty-three Hampshire or Suffolk-sired ram lambs were weaned at 60 d of age (average 23.6 kg of BW) and assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of 1) basal diet (control = BAS), 2) BAS with 6% whole canola seed (CS), 3) BAS with 4.9% deoiled soy lecithin (SL), and 4) BAS with 6% CS and 4.8% SL (CSSL). The BAS diet consisted of 70% forage and 30% concentrate and contained 15% CP and 2.2 Mcal of ME/kg. Lambs were individually fed and given ad libitum access to feed to an average final BW of 52.1 kg. Longissimus muscle (LM) from the left side of each carcass posterior to the 13th rib (12 to 15 cm in length) was excised and the lean (LM) and corresponding subcutaneous (s.c.) adipose tissue were separated, frozen, and later used for lipid analysis by gas-liquid chromatography. In lean tissue, feeding lambs CS reduced (P less than .01) the proportion of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and feeding SL increased (P less than .01) the proportion of total PUFA. In s.c. adipose tissue, lambs fed CS had lower (P less than .01) saturated fatty acids (SFA) and lambs fed SL had increased (P less than .03) PUFA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fatty acid composition, including conjugated linoleic acid, of intramuscular fat from steers offered grazed grass, grass silage, or concentrate-based diets

The effects of grazed grass, grass silage, or concentrates on fatty acid composition and conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11-18:2; CLA) concentrations of i.m. fat of steers fed to achieve similar carcass growth rates were investigated. Fifty steers were divided into 10 blocks based on body weight and assigned at random from within blocks to one of five dietary treatments. The experimental rations offered daily for 85 d preceding slaughter were 1) grass silage for ad libitum intake plus 4 kg of concentrate, 2) 8 kg of concentrate plus 1 kg of hay, 3) 6 kg of grazed grass DM plus 5 kg of concentrate, 4) 12 kg of grazed grass DM plus 2.5 kg concentrate, or 5) 22 kg of grazed grass DM. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in i.m. fat was higher (P < .05) for steers offered ration 5 than for those given any other ration. Decreasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet, which effectively increased grass intake, caused a linear decrease in the concentration of i.m. saturated fatty acids (SFA) (P < .01) and in the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio (P < .001) and a linear increase in the PUFA:SFA ratio (P < .01) and the conjugated linoleic acid concentration (P < .001). The data indicate that i.m. fatty acid composition of beef can be improved from a human health perspective by inclusion of grass in the diet.     

Impact of different inclusion levels of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fronds on fatty acid profiles of goat muscles

The effects of different inclusion levels of oil palm fronds (OPF) on the fatty acid profile of the longissimus dorsi (LD), biceps femoris (BF) and infraspinatus (IS) muscle of goats fed for 100 days are described. Twenty‐four individually housed Kacang crossbred male goats (averaged 21.7 ± 0.97 kg BW) were allocated to three groups receiving either a 100% concentrate control diet (CON), diet with 25% inclusion level of OPF (HAF) or a diet with 50% inclusion of OPF. The diets were adjusted to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous and fed at 3.0% of BW daily. Samples of LD, BF and IS muscles were taken at slaughter for the determination of fatty acid profiles. The total saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the LD and BF muscles of the OPF group were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the CON group. For all muscles, C18:3n‐3 and total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the OPF group than the CON group with minimal impact on the C18:2n‐6 and total n‐6PUFA. Consequently, the n‐6:n‐3 ratio significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the OPF group compared to the CON group. The LD muscle had a significantly higher conjugated linoleic acid 18:2 c19t11 compared to other muscles. There were no interactions between muscle x diet except for total SFA. It is concluded that OPF at 25–50% inclusion levels may decrease the SFA and increase the n‐3PUFA content in chevon, with no apparent adverse effects on the growth performance of the animals, can be used as a feed ingredient to support goat farming in countries that lack grazing pasture.     

Characteristics of lambs fed concentrates or grazed on ryegrass to traditional or heavy slaughter weights. II. Wholesale cuts and tissue accretion

Targhee x Hampshire lambs (average BW 24 +/- 1 kg) were used to determine the effect of finishing on concentrate or by grazing ryegrass forage on slaughter weights of 52 kg (N) or 77 kg (H) on tissue accretion and lamb wholesale cutout. When fed to similar slaughter weights, the wholesale cuts of concentrate-fed lambs were heavier (P < 0.05) than the same cuts from forage-fed lambs; however, when expressed as a percentage of side weight, carcasses of forage-fed lambs had a higher (P < 0.001) percentage of leg than concentrate-fed lambs. Increasing slaughter weight from 52 to 77 kg resulted in a 1-kg increase in loin weight for lambs finished on concentrate and a 0.60-kg increase for lambs finished on forage (diet x slaughter weight, P < 0.03); however, the increased loin weight for lambs finished on concentrate was due largely to increased fat deposition. For lambs slaughtered at 77 kg, those finished on forage had more lean mass in the leg, loin, rack, and shoulder than those finished on concentrate, but lean mass in these cuts did not differ between diets for lambs slaughtered at 52 kg (diet x slaughter weight, P < 0.01). At the normal slaughter weight (52 kg), concentrate-fed lambs had 50% more dissectible fat than forage-fed lambs, whereas at the heavy slaughter weight, a 79% greater amount of dissectible fat was observed for concentrate- vs. forage-fed lambs (diet x slaughter weight, P < 0.001). Lean and fat accretion rates were higher (P < 0.001) for concentrate-fed lambs than for forage-fed lambs. The lean-to-fat ratio of forage-fed lambs was higher (P < 0.001) than that of concentrate-fed lambs; however, forage finishing decreased accretion rates of all tissues compared with concentrate feeding, and these differences between forage and concentrate feeding were magnified at heavier slaughter weights.     

Effects of supplementing with calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids or hydrogenated tallow on ewe milk production and twin lamb growth

Two experiments were conducted with Polypay ewes nursing twin lambs to evaluate the effects of supplementing fat (calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids or hydrogenated tallow) on ewe lactation. In Exp. 1, ewes were fed a 52% concentrate:48% hay-based diet (as-fed basis) consisting of alfalfa hay (n = 4), endophyte-free fescue hay (n = 4), or fescue hay with 3.7% fatty acids (n = 4) from d 4 to 56 of lactation. In Exp. 2, ewes were fed similar diets that had endophyte-free fescue hay (n = 6), fescue hay with 3.7% fatty acids (n = 5), or fescue hay with 3.1% tallow (n = 6) from d 14 before lambing until d 57 of lactation. Diet formulations with supplemental fat were more nutrient dense, and treatments were fed to meet ewe nutrient requirements; this caused diets with added fat to be offered at 10 and 17% lower rates than unsupplemented diets in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Lambs were maintained to consume only ewe milk. Ewe milk production and composition were determined using a portable milking machine following a 3-h separation from lambs. In Exp. 1, milk fat content was increased (P < 0.01) when ewes consumed fescue hay with fatty acids vs. the fescue hay diet (11.4 vs. 8.3%). Ewes fed fescue hay with fatty acids lost the most (P < 0.05) weight over lactation (-8.6 kg) compared with ewes fed the alfalfa hay (-2.4 kg) and fescue hay (-3.8 kg) diets. Other milk measures, lamb gain, and production efficiencies were not changed. In Exp. 2, ewes supplemented with fatty acids produced more (P < 0.05) milk fat than those fed tallow (290 vs. 210 g/d). The proportion of synthesized milk fat 14:0 was decreased (P < 0.01), but the percentage of incorporated 16:0 increased (P < 0.05) when fatty acids were fed. Dietary fat digestibility by ewes was increased (P < 0.01) by fatty acid supplementation but decreased (P < 0.01) when tallow was added. Although ewe weight measures were not changed in Exp. 2, twin lamb gain per ewe organic matter intake was most efficient (P < 0.05) when ewes were supplemented with fatty acids. Results suggest that feeding hydrogenated tallow decreased nutrient availability for ewe milk fat production. A complete diet based on endophyte-free fescue hay can replace a traditional alfalfa hay diet, whereas supplementing with the calcium salts of palm oil fatty acids may be more feasible when energy is limiting during ewe lactation.