The effect of dietary yeast and protected methionine on performance and trace minerals status of growing Awassi lambs

Eighteen growing Awassi lambs were used in this study to determine the effect of supplementing two levels of yeast and methionine (cyc-methionine) on the trace elements bioavailability, growth rate, and general performance. The lambs were divided to three groups. The dietary treatments were the control diet (C), control diet plus 2 g cyc-methionine/lamb/day (T₁) and control diet plus 4 g cyc-methionine/lamb/day (T₂).

Lambs fed 2 g/day of cyc-methionine (T₁) showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) copper, zinc, and cobalt concentrations in liver and meat tissues, but not the same trend in kidney. No significant (P > 0.05) effect of time and time × treatment interaction on copper, zinc, cobalt, and manganese concentrations in blood serum, but cobalt and manganese concentration showed significant (P < 0.05) change by time. Moreover, a significantly (P < 0.05) higher total body gain, average daily gain, dressing percentage, and lower feed conversion were detected in lambs from T₁ compared with the control and T₂ groups.

Feeding 2 g of cyc-methionine to growing lambs increased the net profit by $6.017/lamb and only $3.52/lamb fed 4 g cyc-methionine/day when compared with the control group.

In conclusion, feeding growing Awassi lambs yeast and methionine in a form of cyc-methionine, with a low level of 2 g/day, improve the bioavailability of copper, zinc, and cobalt by growing lambs and their growth performance.     

Effect of fibrolytic enzyme inclusion in high concentrate fattening diets on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of Awassi lambs

The objective of this study was to study the effect of fibrolytic enzyme (FE) inclusion on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of Awassi lamb fed on a high concentrate diet. Thirty weaned Awassi lambs (initial body weight = 20.4 ± 3.0 kg) were fed a high concentrate diet (with or without the addition of FE (15 lambs/treatment)) for 60 d in a completely randomized design. The diet contained 17, 7, 58.5, 15, and 2.5% wheat straw, wheat bran, barley grain, soybean meal and minerals, respectively. Lambs were fed ad libitum twice daily at 08:00 and 15:00 h. Dry matter, OM, CP, and NDF intakes were all similar (P > 0.05) for lambs fed diet with or without the FE and averaged 1078, 941, 171, and 432 g/d, respectively. Metabolizable energy intake was also not affected (P > 0.05) by the enzyme supplementation and averaged 2.87 Mcal/d. Dry matter, OM, CP, and NDF digestibilities were all unaffected (P > 0.05) by the enzyme inclusion and averaged 64.8, 67, 65.7 and 60.4%. Final body weight, average daily gain, and feed to gain ratio were all unaffected (P > 0.05) by the FE inclusion and averaged 34.9 kg, 222 g/d, and 5.4, respectively. In summary, FE treatment of high concentrate diet for lambs had no effect on nutrient intake or any of the growth performance parameters. Therefore, supplementing such diets with FE for fatting Awassi lambs is not recommended.     

Effect of breed on fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality characteristics of Awassi and Morkaraman lambs

The influence of breed on fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality traits was studied in Awassi and Morkaraman male lambs at approximately 8 months of age. All of the groups were fed a diet consisting of concentrate mixture offered ad libitum, and 300 g of grass hay per lamb per day during 60-day fattening period. Initial live weight, final live weight, daily weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (concentrate and hay consumption for 1 kg of live weight gain) were 39.63 kg, 55.08 kg, 0.258 kg and 6.37 for Awassi; 40.54 kg, 55.58 kg, 0.234 kg and 6.77 for Morkaraman, respectively. The effect of breed on fattening performance and slaughter traits except for LD area was not significant. In addition, meat colour parameters (L = lightness, a = redness, b = yellowness, H = hue angle and C = chroma), pH values, drip loss and sensory attributes were not affected by breed in present study. A significant muscle effect was observed for instrumental measurements of some meat quality characteristics as meat colour parameters (L, a and C), collagen, drip loss, pH, moisture and protein content, WBS, and for some sensory attributes (tenderness, juiciness, acceptability and number of chewing). Results of this study indicate that fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality traits were similar between Awassi and Morkaraman male lambs.     

Fattening performance and carcass traits of Chios male lambs fed under traditional and intensive feeding conditions

This study was carried out to compare the fattening performance and carcass traits of Chios male lambs fed under traditional and intensive feeding conditions. In the study, a total of 34 lambs were randomly separated into traditional (T) and intensive (I) groups in equal numbers. Lambs in group T were fed on ration prepared in local style and grazed in olive grove for 8 h/day. On the other hand, lambs in group I were fed on 255 g alfalfa hay animal⁻¹ day⁻¹ and ad libitum mixed feed. After a period of 8 weeks, lambs were transported to the slaughterhouse. The results showed that Chios lambs fed under intensive conditions has better performance and produced heavier carcass compared to those fed under traditional conditions. However, consumption of concentrate feed mixture was about twice as much in group I as in group T. Total feed consumption and feed conversion ratio was similar in each group. The values of carcass traits of lambs in group I were found to be significantly higher than those of group T. On the other hand, carcass fat thickness was slightly lower in group T. Traditional condition is considered to respond to better to consumer demands for lean lamb carcass.     

Natural or replacer sources of milk in lambs during feeding adaptation: influences on performance,metabolism of protein and lipid and oxidative/antioxidant status

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of milk feeding using milk replacer (MR) or natural ewe's milk (NEM) for Lacaune lambs on performance, protein and lipid metabolism and oxidative/antioxidant status. These parameters were evaluated during the period of feeding adaptation, which corresponded to 12 days after ewe's separation. Fifteen lambs were selected and divided into two groups: Group A (n = 7) with lambs receiving natural milk; Group B (n = 8) with lambs receiving a milk replacer. Liquid food supply, for both groups, was set according to their body weight, given in two daily periods. Feed intake was also obtained by individual body weight and adjusted according leftovers. Blood samples were collected on three different days (0, 6 and 12) to perform the serum analysis of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and urea. Additionally, the oxidative profile was analysed in sera samples through the assessment of TBARS (reactive substances thiobarbituric acid) and ROS (reactive oxygen species) which aims to identify lipid peroxidation and free radical levels, respectively, as well as the antioxidant profile evaluating glutathione S‐transferase (GST). There was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between groups on levels of total protein, albumin and globulin. However, cholesterol (day 6), triglycerides (days 6 and 12), urea (day 6) and ALT (day 12) levels differed (p < 0.05) between groups. Values of total protein, globulin, ALT and TBARS differed (p < 0.05) along the time. The average weight gain and body weight differed (p < 0.05) only on day 12, showing that weight gain was higher for lambs fed with NEM. The performance of lambs fed with MR was impaired. Biochemical parameters had a slight variation between groups and along the time, as well as oxidative/antioxidant status did not change in the different liquid diets.     

The metabolic profile of growing lambs fed diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids

The effect of two diets enriched with unsaturated fatty acids – one containing the addition of dried distillers grains with solubles (DGS) and the other the addition of false flax – Camelina sativa cake (CS) – on some metabolic parameters and hormone concentration in growing lambs was determined in this experiment. A total of 21 ram lambs of the Polish Whiteheaded mutton sheep were divided into three groups (the control, receiving DGS and CS). The diets were administered to animals for 6 weeks. During the experiment, peripheral blood was collected. Glucose (GL), total cholesterol (CH), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), insulin (IN), leptin (LE), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were assayed in serum. The age‐dependent reduction in CH and TG limited by both experimental diets were observed. A significant increase in FFA concentration was observed in samples collected in the last, that is, third, time period. This was most probably caused by a 12‐h pre‐slaughter fasting period. A significantly lower dynamic of FFA increase in that experimental period was found in animals receiving the experimental feed. Insulin concentration in DGS‐receiving lambs was increased, in contrast to the CS‐receiving lambs, in which it was lower when compared to the control. LE concentration was decreased by both experimental diets, more markedly in the DGS‐receiving animals. No differences between the experimental groups and the control were observed in T3 and T4 concentrations. The effect of 12‐h pre‐slaughter fasting was statistically highly significant for the levels of examined blood markers and hormones, except for TG and IN in the group of lambs receiving the experimental diet with CS.     

Diet selection by growing lambs offered whole barley and a protein supplement, free choice: Effects on performance and digestion

Feeding whole barley and a protein supplement at choice to early weaned lambs (15 kg initial weight) was studied in four experiments. In a first experiment whole barley and a pelleted soybean meal-based supplement (348 g crude protein (CP)/kg dry matter (DM)) were given either at choice (CH) or mixed in a 75 / 25 ratio (M) and compared to a pelleted compound feed containing the same ingredients and supplemented with barley straw (C). The effect of allowing free access to straw in the CH treatment (CHS) was tested in a second experiment. Rumen fermentation was also studied in six lambs per treatment slaughtered after the growing period, and digestibility and allantoin excretion were determined in other four lambs per treatment. In Experiments 3 and 4 supplements containing 253–264 (L), 341–329 (M) and 424–427 (H) g CP/kg DM were offered at choice with whole barley to lambs penned individually (Experiment 3) or in a group (Experiment 4) and diet selection and lamb performance were recorded.

The protein supplement was selected in proportions of 0.28 and 0.34 (S.E. 0.021) of concentrate intake with treatments M and CH (Experiment 1) and 0.45 and 0.52 (S.E. 0.033) with treatments CH and CHS (Experiment 2). The concentration of rumen ammonia increased (P < 0.05) to 28 and 56 (S.E. 8.6) mg/l compared to 12 mg/l in treatment C. Rumen pH also increased (P < 0.001) from 4.95 to 5.48 and 5.60 (S.E. 0.080) with treatments CH and CHS while the concentration of volatile fatty acids and the acetate to propionate ratio tended to decrease (P < 0.1). Organic matter digestibility and allantoin excretion were higher with whole barley feeding (0.82 vs. 0.75 (S.E. 0.18) and 13.1 vs. 7.7 (S.E. 1.06) mmol/d) but decreased with straw supplementation (0.78 and 10.2 mmol/d). Daily weight gain of male lambs (but not of females) tended (P = 0.08) to be higher with whole barley than with the compound feed due to higher concentrate intake (P < 0.05), which was also depressed by straw supplementation of whole barley reducing the rate of gain (P = 0.06). Incidence of hyperparakeratosis and ulceration of rumen wall was high with all treatments (0.80 and 0.36) but papillary clogging was less frequent (P < 0.01) with whole barley (0.16) than with the compound feed (0.70) and tended (P = 0.01) to be reduced by straw supplementation. In Experiments 3 and 4 the proportion of protein supplements selected ranked in reverse order to their CP content, resulting in diets of similar CP concentration (180–200 g/kg DM). It is concluded that choice feeding of whole barley may be a practical alternative that offers some advantages over conventional compound feeding of growing lambs.     

Effect of sex and feeding system on feed intake, growth, and meat and carcass characteristics of fattening Assaf lambs

The effect of feeding system and sex on intake, growth and carcass and meat characteristics of Assaf fattening lambs was studied. Twenty four weaned Assaf lambs, half males and half females were used. After an adaptation period, lambs were randomly assigned to one of the two feeding systems studied. Control lambs received ad libitum commercial concentrate (70% barley, 22% soybean meal, 4.8% wheat, 0.5% bicarbonate, 2.7% mineral–vitamin premix) and barley straw. Free Choice lambs had ad libitum and separate access to whole barley grain and a protein supplement (73.3% soyabean meal, 16% wheat, 1.7% bicarbonate, 9% mineral–vitamin premix). Lambs were slaughtered at 25 kg LBW. Feed intake was not significantly affected by sex (P > 0.05) but Free Choice lambs showed higher dry mater intake than the Control lambs. Nevertheless, only males from the Free Choice group showed an improvement in feed efficiency rate (P < 0.05) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) relating to the Control lambs. Neither feeding system nor feeding system × sex interaction significantly affected non-carcass weight, fat depots, cold carcass weight, dressing percentage, main proportions of commercial cuts and meat characteristics (P < 0.05). As it was expected, female lambs showed a lower average daily gain and a higher feed conversion efficiency than male lambs (P < 0.001) which was related to a greater fat deposition. Meat characteristics were unaffected by sex, with the exception of longissimus lumborum fat content, which was higher in female lambs.The present results suggest that Free Choice feeding system might be suitable for intensively reared male lambs since improvements in daily weight gain and feed conversion rate were achieved, with no adverse effect on carcass and meat quality. Despite the selected diet of both, males and females, did not differ in the crude protein content, the use of Free Choice feeding system for female lambs did not improve performance compared to the Control group.     

饲养系统和日粮对羔羊屠宰性能和肌肉矿物质含量的影响

文章旨在探讨不同饲养系统和日粮对羔羊生长、屠宰性能及肌肉矿物质含量的影响。试验将平均体重为（13.97±0.55）kg的120只羔羊随机分为3组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只。T1组在室内饲喂基础浓缩料,每天补充100 g稻草,T2组在室内饲喂基础浓缩料,每天补充100 g稻草和锌硒复合矿物质（0.2 mg/d硒,50 mg/d锌）,T3组在室外放牧,除了采食苜蓿草外,每天额外补充100 g稻草和100 g燕麦。试验时间为9周。结果：T1和T2组羔羊的末重、日增重、半胴体重、下肢深度、下肢重量、眼肌面积、颈、胸肌、肾重量均显著高于T3组（P＜0.05）,但骨盆骨重量显著低于T3组（P＜0.05）。各处理组羔羊的可食用部分和骨盆肌肉重量无显著差异（P＞0.05）。T2组63 d羔羊血液硒含量较T1和T3组分别显著提高了19.83%和25.0%（P＜0.05）,血液锌含量较T1和T3组分别显著提高了31.71%和45.91%（P＜0.05）。T3组羔羊肌肉钙含量较T1和T2组分别显著提高了8.79%和5.37%（P＜0.05）。T2羔羊肌肉硒和锌含量较T1和T3组分别显著提高了41.18%、65.52%和38.19%、46.15%（P＜0.05）,T2和T3组羔羊肌肉钾含量较T1组分别显著提高了3.27%和4.28%（P＜0.05）。结论：在本试验条件下,放牧羔羊胴体的脂肪含量低于室内饲养的羔羊,室外放牧可以提高肌肉钙和钾含量,但肌肉硒含量降低。[关键词]饲养系统|羔羊|屠宰性能|矿物质     

饲喂代乳粉对羔羊生长性能和体组织参数的影响

研究饲喂代乳粉和母羊哺乳对羔羊生长性能和体组织参数的影响。选取18只日龄和体重相近、健康的杂交F1羔羊,随机分成试验组和对照组,每组9只。试验组饲喂代乳粉,对照组随母羊哺乳,饲养时间为90d。称取20、90日龄空腹体重,并于90日龄时每组随机选取4只屠宰,称量胴体、各胃室、小肠各段、内脏器官鲜重。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验组羔羊平均日增重提高18.61%(P0.05);宰前活体重、胴体重分别提高22.28%、32.44%(P0.05),屠宰率提高6.67%(P0.05);复胃总重增加13.25%(P0.05),其中瘤胃鲜重增加25.92%(P0.05),皱胃鲜重提高6.74%(P0.05),网胃和瓣胃鲜重则有降低的趋势;回肠鲜重和长度分别增长75.28%(P0.05)和35.50%(P0.05);肺、肾脏、肝脏和脾脏鲜重提高22.29%、30.10%、28.86%和38.22%(P0.05)。结论:饲喂代乳粉后可提高羔羊生长性能,但对屠宰率无显著影响,可促进其瘤胃的发育,并影响部分内脏器官发育。     

The effect of high calcium intake by pregnant Awassi ewes at late gestation on minerals status and performance of ewes and newborn lambs

Calcium (Ca) requirement increase rapidly by pregnant ewes at late gestation as a result of high fetal growth. Furthermore, Ca deficiency results in poor growth and bone development in growing newborn lambs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium supplementation (Calcium carbonate–CC) and vitamin AD₃E injection (75,000 IU/shot) to pregnant Awassi ewes at late gestation (− 45 days prepartum) on their mineral levels and performance of their newborn lambs. Forty pregnant Awassi ewes at late gestation (65 ± 6.1 kg) were selected before parturition (− 45 days; using hormonal sponges for estrus synchronization) and randomly divided to 4 dietary treatments. The treatments were: group 1 Control (1.4% CC); group 2 (2.4% CC); group 3 (1.4% CC + 2 shots vitamin AD3E at − 45 and − 21 days prepartum); group 4 (2.4% CC + 2 shots vitamin AD3E at − 45 and − 21 days prepartum). Blood samples were collected from ewes (− 45, 0 days prepartum: 30 and 60 days postpartum) and lambs (0, 30 and 60 days old). Average milk yield and samples were collected. Body weights of lambs were taken at birth, 30 and 60 days old. Blood serum and milk samples were prepared and analyzed by AAS for Ca, Mg, Co, Mn and Cu concentrations.Calcium concentrations in bloods serum of ewes, 0 and 60 days postpartum, and lambs at weaning (60 days old) from group 4 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to other groups. No significant effect (P > 0.05) of treatment on Co, Mg and Cu in blood serum of ewes and lambs except for Cu concentration in ewes. Moreover, a significant increase (P < 0.01) in milk inorganic% (30 and 60 days samples) in ewes from group 2 when compared with other groups. The average milk yield (AMY) of ewes from group 2 and 4 at late stage of lactation (45–60 days) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to groups 1 and 3. In addition, Ca% in colostrums samples from ewes in groups 2 and 4 were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The average daily gain (ADG) and total body gain for lambs up to weaning (60 days old) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in groups 1 and 2 compared with the other groups.In conclusion, increasing level of Ca intake in feed of Awassi ewes at late gestation, with or without vitamin AD₃E injections, improve the calcium concentration in colostrums and blood serum of ewes and their lambs without negative effect in their health and performance.     

Detailed genetic analysis of feeding behaviour in Romane lambs and links with residual feed intake

Breeding strategies based on feed efficiency are now implemented in most animal species using residual feed intake (RFI) criteria. Although relevant, the correlated responses of feeding behaviour traits resulting from such selection on RFI are poorly documented. We report the estimated feeding behaviour at three time levels (visit, meal and day) and genetic parameters between the feeding behaviour traits and their links with RFI and its components. Feed intake, feeding duration at three time levels (per visit, meal and day), feeding rate, number of visits and time‐between‐visits were estimated for 951 Romane lambs fed via automatic concentrate feeders. Heritability estimates of feeding behaviour traits ranged from 0.19 to 0.54 with higher estimates for the day level than the visit level. Daily feed intake was not genetically linked to feed intake at the visit level, whereas feeding duration between visit and day levels was moderately correlated (R_g = +0.41 ± 0.12). RFI was not significantly correlated with feeding rate, but was positively linked to feed intake and feeding duration at the day level (+0.73 ± 0.09 and +0.41 ± 0.13, respectively) and negatively at the visit level (?0.33 ± 0.14 and ?0.22 ± 0.17, respectively). Selecting animals with lower RFI values might modify their feeding behaviour by increasing feed intake and feeding duration at the visit level but decrease the number of visits per day (+0.51 ± 0.14).     

择食饲喂对肉鸡生产性能和养分代谢的影响

试验研究择食饲喂对肉鸡生产性能、饲料养分利用率和肉鸡整体CP、能量转化率的影响。将144只22日龄艾维茵肉鸡随机分成3组,每组4个重复,每重复12只,分别饲喂粉碎玉米 浓缩料、豆粕 平衡料的试验日粮和基础全价对照日粮,每处理均设两个食槽。结果表明:(1)择食饲喂比饲喂全价混合日粮时生产性能略有下降;(2)择食饲喂对日粮干物质、粗蛋白和能量的表观代谢率无显著影响(P>0.05);(3)择食饲喂对肉鸡整体CP、能量沉积率无显著影响(P>0.05);(4)择食饲喂玉米组,日粮CP以及赖氨酸转化为体增重的效率显著高于另两组(P<0.05)。     

Alfalfa hay improves nursing performance of Awassi ewes and performance of growing lambs when used as a source of forage compared with wheat straw

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing wheat straw (WS) with alfalfa hay (ALF) in diets fed to Awassi lactating ewes (exp. 1) and...     

瘤胃保护性色氨酸对肉羊氮代谢及生长性能的影响

试验选用20只三月龄断奶二元杂交肉羊,采用随机区组试验设计,探讨瘤胃保护性色氨酸对肉羊氮代谢及生长性能的影响。瘤胃保护性色氨酸设四个添加水平,即0g/d、1.0g/d、2.0g/d和4.0g/d。结果表明,日粮中添加瘤胃保护性色氨酸能降低尿氮的排出量,提高氮沉积、日增重和氮的生物学利用率(P0.05),但1.0g/d、2.0g/d和4.0g/d三个处理组之间比较差异不显著(P0.05),在此试验条件下,日粮中瘤胃保护性色氨酸的适宜添加量为1.0g/d。     

不同营养水平全饲粮颗粒料对育肥羔羊钙、磷表观消化与代谢的影响

采用单因子分组设计,按同质原则将27只陶塞特(♂)与藏羊(♀)杂交一代公羔(3.5～4月龄)分为三组(每组9只),喂以不同能量与蛋白质水平(NRC、0.8NRC、0.9NRC)的全饲粮颗粒料。在饲养试验期间,从每组选5只试羊进行消化代谢试验,以研究不同营养水平对羔羊钙、磷消化与代谢的影响。试验结果表明:不同能量与蛋白质水平全饲粮颗粒饲料对羔羊钙、磷的表观吸收率和表观存留率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。     

应用代乳粉培育放牧犊牦牛的生长效果和经济效益分析

通过研究不同营养水平的代乳粉对48头犊牦牛生长发育的影响及对其生产经济效益的分析,发现在本试验条件下:饲喂27%、29%蛋白质水平的代乳粉对犊牦牛的增重效果优于自然放牧牦牛;饲喂29%蛋白质水平代乳品的犊牛生长性能优于饲喂25%和27%蛋白质水平代乳粉的犊牛;对犊牦牛饲喂代乳粉的经济效益大幅优于天然放牧的犊牦牛,27%蛋白质水平代乳粉的投入回报率最高。     

Effect of bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) seeds as a replacement protein source of soybean meal on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing Awassi lambs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing the protein source of soybean meal (SBM) with different levels of bitter vetch seeds (BVS) in the diets of finishing Awassi ram lambs on performance, and carcass characteristics. Diets were designed based on replacing SBM with BVS as a percentage of the diet. Diets were: control (0% BVS), substituting 5% of SBM (5% BVS), 10% of SBM (10% BVS) and the entire SBM in the ration with BVS (15% BVS). Forty eight lambs (18.74?±?3.95 kg initial body weight and 70 days of age) were randomly assigned to 4 treatment diets (12 lambs/treatment). Lambs were given an adaptation period of 10 days and the experiment lasted for 84 days. At the end of the trial, a digestibility experiment was performed and 6 lambs from each treatment were slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics. Average daily gain tended (P?=?0.07) to be higher for lambs fed 10% BVS when compared to the other diets. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was higher (P?<?0.01) in control diet compared to the other diets. Fat depth (C) and leg fat depth (L3) tended (0.05?<?P?<?0.1) to be affected by BVS levels in the diet. Leg total lean % was the highest (P?<?0.05) in 5% BVS and 10% BVS diets. These results suggest that substituting SBM with BVS in the diets did not influence performance or carcass characteristics of lambs. However, the cost of ration formulation decreases since SBM is a very expensive component of the ration.     

枯草芽孢杆菌对地面平养和笼养肉仔鸡生产性能及血液指标的影响

选择240只1日龄新生罗斯308(ROSS 308)肉鸡分成4个处理组,用于研究枯草芽孢杆菌饲料添加剂对地面平养和笼养肉仔鸡的生长性能、养分利用率及血液生化指标等的影响。处理组1和处理组2肉仔鸡日粮添加抗生素金霉素,处理组3和处理组4肉仔鸡日粮中添加枯草芽孢杆菌饲料添加剂;同时,处理组1和处理组3肉仔鸡地面平养,处理组2和处理组4肉仔鸡采用笼养,试验周期21 d。试验结果显示:平均日增重、料重比、粗蛋白和代谢能的表观利用率等指标,处理组4显著优于(P<0.05)处理组1,处理组2和处理组3之间差异不显著(P>0.05)。肉仔鸡血清白蛋白浓度指标,处理组4和处理组2之间无显著差异(P>0.05),且显著大于(P<0.05)处理组1。本试验证明,无论是传统的肉鸡地面平养方式还是现代的规模化肉鸡笼养方式,添加微生态制剂枯草芽孢杆菌,可有效替代饲用抗生素,改善肉仔鸡生长性能,其作用机理主要是提高饲料蛋白质的消化利用率。     

Effects of dietary iron on performance and mineral utilization in lambs fed a forage-based diet

Twenty-four lambs, averaging 29 kg, were used to determine the effect of supplemental dietary Fe on performance and Cu, P, Zn and Mn utilization. Treatments consisted of supplemental Fe at 0, 300, 600 or 1,200 mg/kg diet as ferrous carbonate. The basal diet contained 154 mg Fe/kg diet and consisted of 90% Coastal bermudagrass pellets, 9.45% group corn, .5% sodium chloride and .05% vitamin mix. Lambs were slaughtered after having ad libitum access to diets for 98 to 121 d. Dietary Fe did not affect lamb gain or feed intake. Supplemental Fe increased Fe concentrations in liver (P less than .01), spleen (P less than .01) and bone (P less than .10), but not in kidney and muscle. Serum Fe concentrations and percentage transferrin saturation in serum were increased (P less than .01) by supplemental Fe at 28 and 84 d, but not at the termination of the study. Plasma Cu was decreased (P less than .01) at 56 d, whereas serum ceruloplasmin activity was reduced (P less than .01) at 28 d in lambs fed 1,200 mg Fe/kg diet compared with lambs fed 600 mg Fe/kg diet. Lower levels of Fe (300 and 600) reduced (P less than .01) ceruloplasmin by 56 d and plasma Cu by 84 d compared with controls. Liver Cu also was decreased (P less than .05) by supplemental Fe. Plasma P was decreased slightly (P less than .10) by 28 d and significantly (P less than .01) at the other sampling dates by supplemental Fe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)