大蒜素对哈萨克羊瘤胃发酵的影响

文章主要研究了大蒜素粉对哈萨克羊瘤胃代谢的影响。2010年10月到2011年1月在新疆农业大学羊场，选取年龄和体重相近的健康哈萨克羊4只，前后自身对照，试验期在每只羊的精料中添加25％的大蒜素干粉1．8g／a，每期取瘤胃液和甲烷气体。测定结果表明，试验期瘤胃液pH值显著升高（P〈O．05），两期的氨态氮、微生物蛋白、甲烷、VFA、瘤胃体积、瘤胃周转率、相对稀释率均无显著差异（乃0．05）。     

应用体外短期发酵法评定牧草及秸秆干物质的消化率

用体外短期发酵法测定了6种牧草和6种秸秆的消化率。试验结果表明,用稀释瘤胃液(50mL)培养6种牧草和6种秸秆适宜的样量为0.5g,适宜的培养时间为36h。在此条件下测得的消化率与Tilley法测定的消化率极显著的正相关(P<0.01),而且该法有较好的重复性。     

人工唾液对绵羊瘤胃液相平衡、瘤胃发酵和微生物氮合成的影响

进行两个试验,研究灌注人工唾液对绵(?)平衡,瘤胃发酵和微生物蛋白质合成的影响。用尿液嘌呤衍生物总量作为供给宿主动物微生物氮的指标。试验1内,4只绵羊每天饲喂1kg以侧短干草为基础的配合日粮,采用4×4拉丁方(?),别向瘤胃中灌注0,1.5,3和4L/d单倍浓度的人工唾液(AS)。试验2内,3(?)每天饲喂与试验1成分相同的颗粒日粮1kg,采用3×4不完全拉丁方设计,分别(?)瘤胃中灌注0,4和8L/d单倍浓度和4L/d双倍浓度的人工唾液(DAS)。试验1发现,灌注人工唾液对瘤胃液体积、瘤胃液稀释率、发酵类型及微生物氮合成没有影响试验又发现,灌注8L/d AS和4L/d DAS显著提高瘤胃液稀释率和微生物氮的今成(P<0.05):但对瘤胃液体积没有显著影响(P<0.05)。4个处理的微生物氮合(?)效率分别为8.50,11.20,13.10和13.97g/kg可消化有机物(DOM)(S.E=(?) 95)。微生物氮合成效率与瘤胃液稀释率有相关关系。     

营养水平对河南斗鸡与艾维茵肉鸡杂交一代产肉性能的影响

将河南斗鸡和艾维茵肉鸡杂交一代80只随机分为两组，在不同的营养水平下饲养12周，其结果表明，试验组和对照组0－2周体增重差异不显著（P＞0．05）；3—12周二者差异极显著（P＜0．01）；试验组比对照组提前两周达到最大体增重；饲料转化率二者差异显著（P＞0．05）；母鸡的屠宰率，半净膛率和全净膛率试验组均显著高于对照组（P＜0．01）；而公鸡只有全净膛率显著高于对照组（P＜0．05），胸肌率和腹脂率两组无显著差异（P＞0．05），同营养不同性别的胸肌率有显著差异（P＜0．01），营养和性别对腿重量影响均显著（P＜0．01）；对照组的肌胃重显著高于试验组（P＜0．01）．     

不同外源寡糖对崂山奶山羊瘤胃微生物区系的影响

本试验旨在研究不同外源寡糖对奶山羊瘤胃微生物区系的影响。试验选用 ６只平均体重为（３２．８０±２．４５）ｋｇ、装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的崂山奶山羊,采用分期分组试验设计。各组羊饲喂基础饲粮（对照组）以及分别在基础饲粮中添加 １％甘露寡糖（ＭＯＳ组）、半乳甘露寡糖（ＧＭＯＳ组）、寡木糖（ＸＯＳ组）、低聚异麦芽糖（ＩＭＯ组）、果寡糖（ＦＯＳ组）的试验饲粮。共进行４期试验,每期 ２３ｄ,其中预试期 １４ｄ,正试期 ９ｄ。于晨饲前（０ｈ）,晨饲后 ２、４、６、８ｈ以及晚饲前（晨饲后 １０ｈ）采集瘤胃液,测定瘤胃液中细菌总数以及纤维素分解菌、原虫和真菌数量。结果表明：与对照组相比,试验组瘤胃液细菌总数趋于增加,仅晨饲前 ＭＯＳ组显著提高（Ｐ＜０．０５）;试验组瘤胃液纤维素分解菌数量有所提高,其中 ＭＯＳ组（０ｈ）、ＧＭＯＳ组（０、２、４ｈ）、ＦＯＳ组（０、２、４ｈ）显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）;试验组瘤胃液原虫数量有所提高,其中 ＭＯＳ组（２和 ４ｈ）、ＸＯＳ组（４ｈ）显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）;试验组瘤胃液真菌数量有所提高,其中ＧＭＯＳ组和 ＦＯＳ组（０ｈ）极显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）,ＭＯＳ组（２ｈ）、ＩＭＯ组（２ｈ）、ＦＯＳ组（２ｈ）、ＭＯＳ组（４ｈ）、ＦＯＳ组（６ｈ）显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。细菌总数、纤维素分解菌和原虫数量呈先下降后上升趋势,真菌数量呈先上升后下降趋势。本试验条件下,添加不同外源寡糖对瘤胃微生物影响有所差异,其中甘露寡糖、半乳甘露寡糖和果寡糖对瘤胃液纤维素分解菌、原虫和真菌的增殖作用较明显。     

多山梨醇酯80对棉花秸秆体外发酵的影响

采用体外培养技术，研究不同添加水平的多山梨醇酯80对棉花秸秆在混合绵羊瘤胃液中发酵的影响。结果表明：多山梨醇酯80显著提高棉花秸秆体外发酵24小时的累积产气量和发酵速度。与对照组相比．O．1％组使累积产气量最高提高29．3l％(P＜O．01．12h)．O．2％组最高提高37．22％(P＜0．01，8h)．O．4％组最高提高38．84％(P＜O．Ol，4h)。添加多山梨醇酯80对DM、OM和半纤维素的降解率无显著影响，但O．4％组纤维素降解率较对照组提高15．85％(P＜O．05)。添加多山梨醇酯80后，使pH值下降．总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)提高．其中O．1％组最明显．提高13．49％(P＜O．01)。O．1％组和O．2％组发酵24小时终末的MCP显著下降(P＜O．05)．NH。-N显著升高(P＜O．05)．O．4％组MCP与对照组无显著差异，但NHs～N浓度提高23．18％(P＜O．01)。在体外厌氧培养务件下．多山梨醇酯80明显促进棉花秸秆在混合绵羊瘤胃液中的降解。这提示．多山梨醇酯80有望可作为一种新型的反刍动物瘤胃发酵调控剂。     

牛、羊卵母细胞孤雌激活的研究

本试验主要比较了离子霉素、电脉冲两种方法激活牛、羊体外成熟卵母细胞的效率。两种激活方法中。牛胚胎卵裂率无显著差异（90．61％对94．40％，P〉0．05），而离子霉素激活胚胎的囊胚发育率极显著高于电激活方法（12．3％对2．4％，P〈0．01）。两种方法对羊胚胎的研究中，羊胚胎卵裂率无显著差异（72．4％对77．4％，P〉0．05）。但是离子霉素激活胚胎的囊胚发育率显著高于电激活方法（3．67％对10．40％，P〈0．05）。本试验中还比较了用化学激活法（离子霉素）激活牛体外成熟卵母细胞后，用SOFaa体系培养，换液与不换液对孤雌激活胚胎体外发育的影响。结果表明：在第4天不换液的胚胎卵裂率和囊胚率极显著高于换液的胚胎（11．64％对3．49％。P〈0．01）。     

热应激对荷斯坦种公牛精液品质的影响及机理

用5头荷斯坦种公牛研究了热应激对其生理常值，精液品质，血清生化指标，精清生化指标的影响。结果表明：（1）热应激可造成种公牛精液品质显著下降，使原精活力，冻精活动，精子密度，活精子百分数和顶体完整率分别比春季下降3．13％（P＜0．01），1．11％（P＜0．01），34．8％（P＜0．01），15．0％（P＜0．01）和17．8％（P＜0．01），精子畸形率比春季上升25．5％（P＜0．01）。（2）夏季慢性热应激使荷斯坦种公牛的直肠温度和呼吸频率极显著高于春，米，立3个非热应激季节（P＜0．01）。（3）夏季荷斯坦种公牛血清睾酮，T3，皮质醇和促黄体素的含量分别为3.41ng/L,1.29ng/L,5.05ng/L和45.11ng/L，与非热应激季节相比，均处于较低的水平。（4）热应激可降低血糖和血清钠，钾，钙，镁水平（P＜0．01），使血清GPT，GOT处于最高水平（P＜0．01）。（5）夏季荷斯坦公牛精清睾酮含量仅为4.31ng/L，极显著低于非热应激季节（P＜0．01）。（6）热应激造成荷斯坦种公牛精清钾，钙，镁处于最低水平（P＜0．01），精清ALP，ACP处于最高水平（P＜0．01），使精清钠由春季至夏季呈显著下降趋势。上述结果显示：热应激使体内微环境发生了显著变化，抑制了下丘脑－垂体－睾丸轴的功能，从而影响了精子的生成和贮存。     

光照在肉鸭生产中的应用研究

用1日龄樱桃谷肉鸭900只，要用二因素三水平的完全随机设计研究光照制度对肉鸭生产性能和脂肪沉积的影响。结果表明，光照制度和公母的分群方式分别对肉鸭的日增重有显著影响（P＜0．05）和极显著影响（P＜0．01）；对肉鸭的死亡率和饲料转化率均无显著影响（P＞0．05）；对肉鸭的腹脂率和脂率均有极显著的影响（P＜0．01）。以间隙光照制制和公母分群饲养的效果最好。     

湿度和风速对高温条件下肉仔鸡体热平衡及其血浆相关激素水平的影响

在夏季高温季节，湿度和风速是影响鸡舍温热环境的重要因素。为了定量探讨湿度和风速对鸡体热平衡影响的相对程度和交互作用，本试验采用2×2因子设计（两个湿度处理：80％和40％相对湿度和两个风速处理：0.07和0．44m／s），综合探讨在30℃高温条件下湿度和风速对肉仔鸡直肠温度和体表温度以及血浆T3、T4、胰岛素水平的影响。结果表明，在本试验条件下，高温与低湿比，鸡冠温、翅温、胫温、趾温升高极显著（P＜0．01），直肠温度、胸温升高显著（P＜0．05）；高风速比低风速能极显著降低鸡直肠温度和所测体表温度（除腹温）（P＜0．01）；处理时间对鸡直肠温度没有显著影响，对所测体表温度均有极显著影响（P＜0．01）；湿度、风速和处理时间对鸡直肠温度和所测体表温度均有极显著的交互影响（P＜0．01）。各处理组血浆T4水平之间差异极显著（P＜0．01），而血浆T3水平、胰岛素水平及T3／T4比值之间没有显著差异。     

Characteristics of water soluble markers for measuring rumen liquid volume and dilution rate

The utility of five water soluble markers (WSM) for measuring rumen liquid volume and dilution rate was examined in nine in vitro and in vivo experiments. The WSM tested included polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complexes of Cr, Co, Fe and Yb. Feedstuffs incubated in vitro absorbed variable amounts of distilled H2O and autoclaved rumen fluid with roughages imbibing greater (P less than .05) amounts of fluid than feeds higher in starch. Liquid present in the feeds tested reached equilibrium with added WSM in about 20 min. Corn grain in the whole or ground form appeared to exclude 4 to 16% of the WSM while imbibing water. Cottonseed hulls reduced detectable PEG due to some water soluble substance present. The WSM tested did not produce different estimates of dilution rate (P = .65) and volume (p = .29) of steers fed either 80% whole shelled corn, 90% chopped alfalfa hay or 90% prairie hay diets. Ruminal liquid measured by hand removal was about 4% greater than volume estimated by WSM. The percentage of total ruminal water associated with solids varied from 27 to 86% among steers. Compared with steers fed an 80% whole shelled corn diet, steers fed equal dry matter from alfalfa hay had 15% more dry matter in the rumen, 21% larger liquid volume, 80% greater ruminal liquid dilution rate and 116% greater rate of liquid flow from the rumen. Dilution rate of ruminal liquid during feeding was examined with six steers fed a 90% chopped alfalfa hay diet once daily at 1.8% of body weight. Dilution rate estimated with Co EDTA increased by 166% during the 4 h after feeding. The WSM did not influence (P greater than .10) digestibility of dry matter with steers fed a 90% roughage or a 90% concentrate ration. Recovery of WSM administered via a rumen cannula ranged from 96.8 to 99.7% in feces and 1.2 to 3.4% in urine. All WSM examined appeared suitable for estimating rumen liquid volume and dilution rate for diets not containing cottonseed hulls.     

稀释率对于活体外瘤胃发酵和微生物生长效率的影响

采用连续培养系统的４个发酵罐进行３次连续培养试验,研究瘤胃稀释率（ＤＲ,下同）对于瘤胃微生物发酵和微生物生长效率的影响。瘤胃稀释率为每小时发酵液流出量占发酵罐体积的０．０３和０．０６。试验日粮唯一由大豆皮组成。随着ＤＲ的提高,饲料ＤＭ,ＯＭ,ＣＰ,ＮＤＦ和ＡＤＦ消化率均没有显著变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）。提高瘤胃ＤＲ,显著提高了微生物发酵的ｐＨ（Ｐ＜０．０１）,降低了发酵液中ＮＨ３的浓度（Ｐ＜０．０２）,但对挥发性脂肪酸日产生量和乙、丙、丁酸比例没有显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）。发酵液中瘤胃细菌浓度不随ＤＲ变化而变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）,但每日细菌总量随ＤＲ提高而提高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。发酵液原虫浓度（Ｐ＜０．００１）和原虫每日总产量（Ｐ＜０．０５）均随ＤＲ提高而下降。当ＤＲ从０．０３提高到０．０６时,微生物Ｎ日产生量和微生物生长效率分别提高４１．６％（Ｐ＜０．００１）和５１．９％（Ｐ＜０．００１）。     

脲酶抑制剂对绵羊瘤胃发酵特性的影响

选用 12只瘘管公羊研究氢醌对瘤胃发酵特性的影响。以始重为区组 ,随机将动物分成 4个处理组 ,即在全混合日粮中分别添加 0、2 0、4 0和 80mg/kg氢醌 (干物质基础 )。在采食后 0、2、4、6和 8小时采集瘤胃液样本立即测定瘤胃液的氨浓度和pH值 ,随后测定挥发性脂肪酸和尿素氮含量。不同采样点的瘤胃液pH值不受添加氢醌的影响。在采食后 2小时 ,喂含有氢醌日粮的各试验组瘤胃氨的浓度比对照组低近一半 (P <0 .0 5 )。在 0、6、8小时各处理组NH3 的浓度差异不显著 (P >0 .0 5 )。在采食后 4小时 ,除 80mg/kg组外 ,各试验组氨的浓度与对照组相比 ,差异不显著(P >0 .0 5 )。随着氢醌添加水平的增加 ,对尿素水解的抑制作用增强 ,结果导致尿素在瘤胃中积累的增加 ,这和氨的浓度在不同时间点随氢醌添加水平增加而相应减少的变化趋势是相对应的。日粮中添加 2 0 ,4 0和 80mg/kg氢醌的各处理组乙酸、丙酸和丁酸的总产量分别比对照组提高 2 5 %、4 0 %和 2 6 % ,均达到显著水平 (P <0 .0 5 )。     

不同饲喂频率对梅花鹿瘤胃消化代谢的影响

为探讨不同饲喂频率对梅花鹿瘤胃消化代谢的影响 ,选用 4头装置永久性瘤胃瘘管的成年梅花鹿 ,采用 3种饲喂频率 ,按 4× 3拉丁方试验设计 ,对瘤胃内pH值、氨态氮 (NH3 N)和总挥发性脂肪酸 (TVFA)浓度进行了测定 ,并研究了其动态变化规律以及VFA组分百分率。试验结果表明 ,增加饲喂次数 ,可以极显著地提高梅花鹿对粗饲料的采食量和瘤胃内pH值(P <0 0 1 )。不同饲喂次数 ,对瘤胃内NH3 N浓度、TVFA浓度没有显著的影响 (P >0 0 5)。瘤胃内主要代谢参数均随进食而呈现一定的动态变化规律     

亮氨酸对早期断奶湖羊瘤胃发育及细菌菌群的影响

本试验旨在研究日粮中添加亮氨酸对早期断奶湖羊瘤胃发育及瘤胃细菌菌群组成的影响。选用36只5日龄的湖羊羔羊,依据体重相近原则随机分成对照组(C,0 g/d)、亮氨酸低剂量添加组(L,0.66 g/d)和高剂量添加组(H,1.33 g/d),每组4个重复,每个重复3只羔羊。于30日龄断奶当天每组每个重复取1只羔羊屠宰以获得瘤胃组织及内容物样品(n=4)。结果表明:H组瘤胃乳头的长度较C组显著增加(线性,P<0.01);添加亮氨酸可使瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸水平显著提高(二次,P=0.05),但并未改变乙酸、丙酸和丁酸的摩尔比例(P>0.05);与C组相比,L与H组的瘤胃氨态氮浓度均显著降低(线性,P<0.05;二次,P>0.05);L组羔羊瘤胃内容物中微生物蛋白含量显著高于C组(二次,P=0.05);亮氨酸的添加并未改变瘤胃细菌物种丰富度和多样性指数,但对菌群组成有一定影响;L组瘤胃内最多的是厚壁菌门(49.5%);H组拟杆菌门(51.4%)显著高L和C组(二次,P=0.05);H组的普雷沃氏菌属最多(线性,P>0.05;二次,P>0.05),而L组的巨型球菌属最多(二次,P <0.01);与C组相比,L组的双歧杆菌属(二次,P<0.05)和光岗菌属显著增加(二次,P<0.05)。由此可见,添加亮氨酸可促进羔羊瘤胃发育,改变瘤胃细菌菌群组成。     

A note on the effect of dietary proportions of kale (Brassica oleracea) and grass silage on rumen pH and volatile fatty acid concentrations in dry dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying proportions of dietary kale on rumen pH and volatile fatty acid production. Four pregnant dry dairy cows permanently fitted with ruminal cannulae were randomly assigned to four kale: grass silage dietary proportions (0:100, K0; 60:40, K60; 85:15, K85 and 100:0, K100) on a dry matter basis in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design with four 20 day periods. Cows were acclimatised for 15 days, followed by a five-day period of experimental sampling and measurement. Internal pH meters were installed to continuously monitor rumen pH while rumen liquor collection tubes were used to sample rumen liquor for volatile fatty acid analysis at 0, 4, 8 and 12 h after feeding on each sampling day. Cows on treatment K85 had a lower (P < 0.001) ruminal pH compared to cows on treatments K100, K60 or K0 (6.26, 6.32, and 6.32 vs. 5.91, respectively). While a gradual decrease in rumen pH was observed over an eight-hour period for K85 before recovery, offering K100 did not reduce rumen pH below 6.0 or induce acidosis. Increasing the dietary proportion of kale did not affect (P > 0.05) acetate:propionate ratio production (3.71, 3.65, 3.86, 3.78 mmol L^− 1 for K0, K60, K85 and K100, respectively). Offering cows K60 had increased (P < 0.05) rumen VFA concentration (71.67 mmol L^− 1) relative to K0 (53.45 mmol L^− 1), while offering K85 and K100 had no affect on rumen VFA concentration (61.74 and 59.35 mmol L^− 1) (Table 2). Offering dry cows K100 relative to K0 reduced dry matter intake by 17.5% (7.32 vs. 8.87 kg DM day^− 1, respectively) which may be associated with the presence of S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide which can cause haemolytic anaemia and depressed DM intake. The results suggest that increasing the dietary proportion of kale was associated with a progressive decrease in dry matter intake but with minimal effects on rumen pH, total volatile fatty acid concentration and individual volatile fatty acid proportions.     

Adding polyethylene glycol to steer ration containing sorghum tannins increases crude protein digestibility and shifts nitrogen excretion from feces to urine

The objectives of the experiment were to study the effects of adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) to steer ration containing high sorghum tannins on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestion, nitrogen (N) balance and plasma biochemical parameters. Eight growing steers at 16 months of age were allotted to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 4 treatments and 4 periods (19 d each). Polyethylene glycol at 0, 1.75, 3.50 and 7.00 g/kg dry matter (DM) were added to a basal ration containing 27.82% DM of sorghum grain (total tannins 3.3 g/kg DM) as the treatments. The results indicated that adding PEG quadratically increased the ruminal pH (P = 0.049), tended to linearly increase the ruminal concentration of total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.070), increased the molar proportion of acetate (P = 0.016), linearly decreased the molar proportion of butyrate (P = 0.015), and tended to increase the molar proportion of iso-valerate (P = 0.061) and the ruminal concentration of ammonia N (P = 0.092). Adding PEG tended to quadratically decrease the relative abundance of methanogenic archaea (P = 0.082), linearly decreased the relative abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes (P = 0.008) and decreased the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens (P = 0.048) at 7.00 g/kg DM. Dietary addition with PEG increased the crude protein (CP) digestibility (P < 0.001) and tended to increase the neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P = 0.066) in a linear manner. Adding PEG to basal ration also increased the plasma globulin concentration (P = 0.029) and tended to linearly increase the plasma total protein concentration (P = 0.069). Adding PEG linearly decreased the fecal N excretion (P < 0.001) and the fecal N-to-total N excretion ratio (P = 0.004) and increased the urinary N-to-total N excretion ratio (P = 0.004) and urinary urea excretion (P = 0.010) without affecting the urinary N and total N excretions (P > 0.05). It was concluded that adding PEG effectively improved the CP digestibility of the ration containing high sorghum tannins but increased the urinary urea excretion without improving the N retention and N retention rate in steers.     

Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from the rumen of lambs with rumen acidosis, 16S rRNA identification and sensibility to monensin and lasalocid

A lactic-acid producing bacterium was isolated from the rumen of lambs with rumen acidosis. The cells were Gram-positive, nonmotile, nonsporing, catalase negative spherical, 1.5-2.0 μm in diameter, and occur in pairs and tetrads. Analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA indicated that the rumen bacterium was a strain of Pediococcus acidilactici with 99% of nucleotide homology. This bacterium was sensible to monensin and lasalocid at the unique dose tested of 300 ppm. The concentration of lactic acid and DM degradation decreased (P < 0.05) when monensin or lasalocid were added to the culture media after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. In contrast, total VFA concentration and pH were higher (P < 0.05) in the culture media added with the ionophores. Up to now S. bovis is considered the main ruminal bacterium related with rumen acidosis, but the importance of P. acidilactici should be also reconsidered in experimental studies focused on the control rumen acidosis.     

Change in body condition and carcass characteristics of cull ewes fed diets supplemented with rumen bypass fat

Thirty Malpura ewes (>6 years age) distributed into three groups of 10 each were maintained on concentrate supplemented with rumen protected fat at 0 (T₁), 20 (T₂) and 40 (T₃) g kg⁻¹ and chick pea straw for a period of three months. Towards the end of feeding experiment a metabolism trial was conducted on five representative ewes from each treatment. Blood and rumen liquor samples were analyzed at 0 and 90 days of feeding for blood biochemical and rumen metabolites. Five representative ewes were slaughtered at the initiation of the study and all the experimental ewes were slaughtered after termination of the experiment. The gain in weight (kg) and final body condition score was higher (P<0.05) in T₂ and T₃ as compared to T₁. The concentrate intake increased (P<0.05) with bypass fat (RBF) supplementation. The serum glucose and population of spirotrichs and total protozoa in rumen liquour sample increased (P<0.05) with concentrate as well as concentrate with RBF supplementation. Pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percent, loin eye area, bone percent and carcass fat improved (P<0.05) with RBF supplementation. Composition of Longissimus dorsi muscle also revealed improvement when compared with 0 day composition. The feeding protocol also revealed higher returns by RBF supplementation. It is therefore concluded that RBF supplementation is advantageous in improving body conditions of cull ewes.