Finishing feedlot lambs in enriched pens using feeder ramps and straw and its influence on behavior and physiological welfare indicators

Sixty lambs were placed in enriched (EE) or conventional (CO) pens (3 pens per treatment or 10 lambs per pen), in which the EE pens had a wooden platform with ramps giving access to a concentrate hopper, straw as bedding and forage, and a further ramp for play. The CO pen was barren without any enrichment. The general behavior of the lambs and the use of space were similar for both treatments; however, CO lambs developed significantly more stereotypies (P ≤ 0.05). The EE lambs resolved a T-maze more quickly (P ≤ 0.05), and their physiological adaptation response to the feedlot environment was more efficient. The CO lambs mobilized more body reserves and had lower levels of immunity (i.e., increased nonesterified fatty acid and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, respectively, P ≤ 0.05) than EE lambs at the end of the fattening period, which indicates chronic stress, probably associated with the barren environment. The EE lambs had a higher (P ≤ 0.05) average daily gain, heavier carcasses and higher fattening scores, as well as lower pH_ult. This study shows that enrichment can improve the welfare of feedlot lambs by reducing stereotypies and enhancing the physiological adaptation response to a novel environment.     

Lack of straw during finishing affects individual and social lamb behavior

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of straw bedding on individual and social behavior in lambs. Four groups of 6 lambs of the Rasa Aragonesa breed (n = 24; 17.2 ± 0.2 kg live weight and approximately 60 days old) were formed and fattened for 28 days, in an experimental design that included 2 treatments and 2 replicates. One treatment was given cereal straw either to eat or to lie on, whereas the other treatment had no straw. All groups were housed in 5.6 m² feedlot pens (ad libitum commercial concentrate and water). The lambs in each pen were recorded using a digital video camera (08:00-20:00 hours) for 28 days to measure lying, standing, walking, feeding, and drinking behavior as well as the use of space (scan sampling every 10 minutes). Stereotypies, social interactions, and productive performance parameters were observed by continuous sampling on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of fattening. There were no significant differences in terms of productive performance. In general, the frequency of standing, walking, and eating concentrate was higher in lambs without straw (P ≤ 0.001). As expected, lambs spent more time standing in the straw box when this substrate was available (P ≤ 0.001). Aggressive interactions decreased after 2 weeks in both treatments, but just lambs without straw kept low levels until the end of the trial (P ≤ 0.05). Affiliative interactions increased in both groups throughout the experiment, indicating greater group cohesion. Stereotypic behaviors were more frequent in lambs with no straw on all observation days (P ≤ 0.05). The absence of cereal straw was a source of stress for the lambs, which affected their behavior during fattening. Providing straw can be a practical way to increase environmental enrichment aimed at improving welfare.     

湖羊与澳湖F1代羔羊短期育肥效果的比较

本研究以湖羊和澳湖F1代羔羊(澳洲白绵羊♂ × 湖羊♀)为研究对象,对其生长性能、屠宰性能、体组成和肌肉品质进行比较分析,综合评估湖羊与澳湖F1代羔羊育肥效果.随机选择湖羊和澳湖杂交F1代羔羊各61只,在相同的饲养环境和日粮下进行育肥和性能测定.饲养试验结束后立即屠宰,对试验羊只的生长性能、屠宰性能、体组成和肌肉品质等指标进行系统测定和比较.结果显示,湖羊和澳湖F1羔羊育肥期初始体重(0 d)、末期体重(60 d)无显著差异(P>0.05),全期平均日增重(ADG)、平均日采食量(ADFI)无显著差异(P>0.05),但在育肥前期(0～20 d)湖羊的ADG极显著高于澳湖F1代羔羊(P<0.01),而在育肥中期(20～40 d)和后期(40～60 d)澳湖F1代羔羊的ADG均显著高于湖羊(P<0.05).澳湖F1代羔羊的胴体胸围、臀围和眼肌面积显著大于湖羊(P<0.05).澳湖F1代羔羊的心脏重、肝脏重、肺脏重及其相对重(宰前活重)均极显著高于湖羊(P<0.01),但皮毛重、肾周脂重、肠系膜重、尾脂重及其相对重(宰前活重)均极显著低于湖羊羔羊(P<0.01).湖羊的熟肉率和屠宰结束后45 min肌肉pH极显著大于澳湖F1代羔羊(P<0.01),但澳湖F1代羔羊肌肉失水率、屠宰结束后24 h肉色b*2值和l*2值极显著优于湖羊(P<0.05).总体上来看,湖羊早期生长发育较快,但澳湖F1代羔羊后期生长潜力较大,且胴体性能优于湖羊,胴体脂肪沉积比湖羊少,肉用性能明显提高.     

Growth performance and meat characteristics of hair lambs grazing stargrass pasture without supplementation or supplemented with concentrate containing different levels of crude protein

Abstract

Forty crossbreed hair lambs (19.1 kg body weight; 8 months of age) grazing on a Cynodon plestoctachyus pasture without supplementation or supplemented with 300 g of concentrate containing different levels of crude protein (CP) were randomly assigned to treatments defined as follows: control (without supplementation); CP130 (concentrate 130 g CP/kg), CP150 (concentrate 150 g/kg), CP170 (concentrate 170 g/kg), and CP190 (concentrate 190 g CP/kg). Lambs fed supplements had higher final body weight (BW), total gain, average daily gain (ADG), total dry matter intake (DMI), total tract digestion, and carcass dressing than lambs in control treatment. Final BW, total gain, ADG, total DMI, feed conversion, and total tract digestion were improved linearly as protein level in concentrate increased. Meat of lambs fed supplements was lighter, redder, and less yellow than meat of lambs in control treatment. It is concluded that supplementation improved ADG, feed conversion, carcass dressing, and meat color.     

稻草秸秆与苜蓿的日粮组合对山羊消化道各部位营养物质消化率的影响

选9只体况良好,体质量相近,安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管、十二指肠瘘管、回肠瘘管的成都麻羊半同胞羯羊,随机分成3组,饲以稻草基础日粮,分别补饲25%(MSL25)、50%(MSL50)与75%(MSL75)的苜蓿(MSL),采用Co-EDTA为食糜标记物,测定消化道各部位(胃区、小肠与大肠)及整个消化道干物质(DM)、有机物(OM)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)与酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)的消化率。结果表明,1)MSL25、MSL50与MSL75的胃区DM消化率、小肠DM消化率、大肠DM消化率以及全消化道DM消化率分别为37.70%、40.44%与41.57%,5.30%、5.61%与7.27%,17.15%、19.03%与24.20%,51.12%、54.48%与58.92%;2)MSL25、MSL50与MSL75的胃区OM消化率、小肠OM消化率、大肠OM消化率以及全消化道OM消化率分别为41.18%、44.83%与45.70%,5.45%、5.94%与7.77%,18.18%、20.62%与26.12%,54.49%、58.81%与62.96%;3)MSL25、MSL50与MSL75的胃区NDF消化率、小肠NDF消化率、大肠NDF消化率以及全消化道NDF消化率分别为39.97%、42.24%与43.19%,3.58%、2.69%与4.61%,6.61%、7.47%与11.52%,46.46%、48.00%与52.05%;4)MSL25、MSL50与MSL75的胃区ADF消化率、后消化道ADF消化率以及全消化道ADF消化率分别为38.81%、44.52%与48.61%,1.29%、5.28%与4.71%,39.59%、47.45%与51.05%。本研究结论,山羊稻草基础日粮中补饲适量25%～50%的苜蓿,不仅有利于稻草纤维物质在胃区的发酵,且能提高这些纤维物质在后肠道的消化能力,从而使得山羊在整个消化道消化纤维物质的能力增强,表现出明显的组合效应。     

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.     

Associative effects of supplementing rice straw‐based diet with cornstarch on intake,digestion, rumen microbes and growth performance of Huzhou lambs

Thirty‐six male Hu lambs consuming a rice straw‐based diet were used in a 60‐day trial to study the associative effects of cornstarch supplementation on intake, digestion, ruminal microbial population and growth performance. All animals were fed rice straw ad libitum together with 160 g/day of rapeseed meal and supplemented with cornstarch at levels of 0 (control), 60, 120 or 180 g/day, respectively. Increment of supplementary cornstarch showed little influence on rice straw intake. Optimal growth performance and highest apparent digestibility of organic matter was achieved in the 120 g/day cornstarch group (P < 0.05), while the digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein were significantly decreased by 180 g/day cornstarch (P < 0.05). Similar results were observed for carboxymethyl cellulose activity and relative populations of cellulolytic bacteria (Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogene). Blood urea nitrogen was reduced by supplementary cornstarch, indicating enhanced protein utilization efficiency. Carcass traits were all significantly improved by supplementary cornstarch. These results suggested that proper amounts of starch supplementation (within 0.5% BW) has little adverse effect on forage utilization, but could effectively improve growth performance. High levels of cornstarch, however, would decrease cellulase activity and populations of cellulolytic bacteria, and hence the digestibility of forage.     

不同处理方式的秸秆对舍饲肉羊育肥增重的影响

文章旨在评估不同处理方式的秸秆对舍饲肉羊育肥增重的影响,采用秸秆综合处理技术,对肉羊进行了120?d的饲养试验.结果表明,与放牧组相比,2、3、4组平均末重增加6.48、8.45、10.75?kg,分别增加23.64％、30.84％、39.23％;在只均增重方面分别增加20.36％、31.57％、38.13％;在平均日...     

稻草补饲苜蓿对山羊瘤胃发酵的组合效应

将9只体况良好、体质量相近(41.3±1.2) kg、安装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的成都麻羊半同胞羯羊, 随机分成3组, 饲以稻草基础日粮, 分别补饲苜蓿(Medicago sativa, MSL)25%(MSL25)、50%(MSL50)与75%(MSL75), 进行瘤胃内环境的测定及发酵指标的组合效应研究。结果显示, 3组不同苜蓿补饲水平混合粗饲料的瘤胃液相pH在6.53～6.93, NH3-N浓度在9.42～43.27 mg·dL-1, 总挥发性脂肪酸浓度在69.45～107.28 mmol·L-1, 菌体蛋白浓度在73.56～132.23 mg·dL-1, NH3-N浓度、总挥发性脂肪酸浓度与菌体蛋白浓度均随苜蓿补饲水平的增加呈非线性增加。以MSL25作参照的瘤胃发酵指标的多项指标组合效应指数(MFAEI), MSL75的为1.21, 仅为MSL50组1.03的1.17倍。表明当山羊稻草基础日粮苜蓿补饲水平超过50%时, 提高稻草纤维物质利用率的组合效应增加不明显。     

青贮时间对巨型稻秸秆青贮发酵感官评分与营养品质的影响

试验旨在研究青贮时间对巨型稻秸秆青贮发酵感官评分与营养品质的影响,确定适宜的青贮发酵时间.试验测定3个不同青贮时间(7、14、28 d)巨型稻秸秆的感官评分以及营养品质.结果 表明,青贮时间为7d时,巨型稻秸秆含水量约50％,青贮品质评分最高,评定为优等;此时,青贮料的粗蛋白含量达到最高,为6.83％,粗脂肪、灰分、粗...     

苏尼特羔羊肌内脂肪沉积规律及其与肌肉嫩度相关性的研究

本试验以苏尼特羊为研究对象,采用单因子试验设计,对不同屠宰体重(10、20、30kg和40kg)羔羊的日增重、屠宰率和肉质进行系统研究。试验结果表明:苏尼特羔羊的体重对日增重、屠宰率、肌肉水分含量、肌内脂肪含量、剪切力和系水率都有显著影响(P0.05);肌内脂肪含量与肌肉剪切力呈极显著负相关(r=-0.983,P0.01)。     

饲用苎麻与稻草不同比例混合青贮品质及饲用价值评价

将鲜饲用苎麻与干稻草按质量比分别为90:10(R10)、80:20(R20)和60:40 (R40)贮存30、45 d和60 d后,进行感官评价、pH测定、营养成分分析以及饲用价值评价。结果表明:混合青贮产品感官评分较高,除R10组的30 d为2级尚好,其余各组均达到1级优等;处理对混合青贮pH无显著影响(P=0.462),对常规营养成分均有极显著的影响(P <0.01),处理与青贮时间对混合青贮的粗灰分有极显著的交互作用(P=0.0002);处理及青贮时间对混合青贮的相对饲用价值指数(RFV)均有极显著的影响(P <0.01),但未呈现出显著的交互作用(P> 0.05);R10组的RFV值较高,且不同青贮时间之间无显著差异(P> 0.05)。综合青贮品质及RFV,建议鲜饲用苎麻与干稻草混合青贮时适宜占比为80%～90%,青贮时间为45 d。     

水稻秸整株青贮对荷斯坦奶牛生产性能的影响

采用单因素试验设计,将30头健康的荷斯坦奶牛随机分为3组,水稻秸整株青贮分别以0、25％、50％（干物质基础）3个比例添加饲喂奶牛60d（预试验15d,正式试验45d）探讨水稻秸整株青贮对奶牛生产性能的影响。结果表明,水稻秸整株青贮可以代替一定比例的玉米青贮,并且对奶牛生产性能的影响差异不显著（P〉0．05）。同时水稻秸青贮添加量为25％（II组）和50％（Ⅲ组）的试验组每天每头奶牛的生产成本比玉米青贮的（I组）组生产成本降低了1．92元（人民币）和3．82元（人民币）,相对应的收入每天每头牛增加了3．48元（人民币）和4．56元（人民币）。     

Feed intake,digestibility, body weight and carcass parameters of Afar rams fed tef (Eragrostis tef) straw supplemented with graded levels of concentrate mix

The experiment was conducted at Alamata Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia using 20 Afar rams with an initial body weight (BW) of 18.2 ± 1.76 (mean ± SD) kg. The objectives were to study the effect of supplementation with concentrate mix consisting of wheat bran (WB), noug seed cake (NSC) and sesame seed cake (SSC) at the ratio of 2:1:1 on dry matter (DM) basis, respectively on feed intake, digestibility, BW gain and carcass parameters of Afar rams fed tef (Eragrostis tef) straw basal diet. The experiment was arranged with four treatments and five replications in a randomized complete block design. The treatments included feeding sole tef straw (T1, control), and daily supplementation with the concentrate mix offered at 150 (T2, low), 250 (T3, medium) and 350 (T4, high) g DM per head. Total DM intake, crude protein (CP) digestibility, daily BW gain (P < 0.001), DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility, and carcass parameters (P < 0.05) were higher in the supplemented than in the control treatment. Intake of tef straw reduced as the level of supplementation increased, whereas the contrary was true for CP intake. Performance in carcass parameters was better for the medium compared to the low level of concentrate mix supplementation. Moreover, the medium level of supplementation did not substitute tef straw intake. Therefore, it is concluded that the medium level of concentrate mix supplement maintained the utilization of the roughage feed and resulted in better carcass parameters.     

Hematologic evaluation of normal and anemic lambs with the Technicon H*1 using EDTA or heparin as anticoagulants

Abstract: A study was performed to evaluate blood from young lambs using the Technicon H*1 hematology analyzer, with emphasis on RBC parameters, comparison of tripotassium EDTA and heparin, and the effects of storage on heparinized blood. Blood samples from lambs 2 days to 18 weeks of age were analyzed within 6 hours, revealing a high precision, except for WBC counts in heparinized blood. The HCT values estimated by the H*1 correlated well (r²= .90) with those obtained by the microhematocrit method. Mean hematologic values obtained for heparinized blood differed by up to 4% from values obtained for blood collected into EDTA. WBC counts decreased 8.4% in heparinized blood stored at 4°C for 1 day, but differences observed in RBC counts were ≤ 2%. Problems occurred when analyzing blood from young lambs with low hemoglobin values because the H*1 incorrectly counted microcytes with volumes of < 10 fL as platelets. When the necessary corrections were performed, the H*1 was useful for analyzing RBC parameters in lamb blood collected both into EDTA and into heparin.     

Effects of low-crude protein diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on fattening performance and nitrogen excretion of Holstein steers

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of low-crude protein (CP) diets supplemented with rumen-protected lysine and methionine on growth performance, nitrogen excretion, and carcass traits in Holstein steers. Steers consumed the following diets: (1) 17.2% CP on a dry-matter basis during the early period (from 7 to 10 months of age) and 14.5% CP during the late period (from 10 to 18 months of age; CON, n = 4, initial body weight [BW] 238 kg), and (2) 14.4% CP during the early period and 11.4% CP during the late period (AA, n = 4, initial BW 243 kg). The AA diet contains rumen-protected lysine and methionine. Except for CP intake, feed intake and body weight gain were not affected by dietary CP content. Total nitrogen excretion per metabolic BW tended to be lower (p < .10) in the early period and significantly lower (p < .05) in the late period with decreasing the feed CP content. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were lower in AA than CON. Carcass traits and total free amino acid contents of the longissimus thoracis muscle were not affected by dietary CP content. Adding rumen-protected lysine and methionine to a low-CP diet would reduce nitrogen excretion in fattening Holstein steers without affecting productivity.     

河西绿洲灌区留茬覆盖免耕保护性耕作的增产节水效应

试验设20 cm留茬压倒(NPS20),40 cm留茬压倒(NPS40),40 cm立秆(NS40),20 cm立秆(NS20),6 750kg/hm2覆盖(NSB40),3 750 kg/hm2覆盖(NSB20)和传统耕作(CT)7个处理,在节水1 950 m3/hm2的条件下,研究了不同的秸秆覆盖量、留茬高度和秸秆处理对小麦产量、水分利用效率(WUE)和不同时期土壤水分的影响。结果表明,留茬覆盖免耕保护性耕作提高了春小麦的产量,NPS20,NPS40,NS40,NS20,NSB40和NSB20较CT分别增产53.08%,46.59%,40.81%,19.93%,17.33%和4.34%;留茬覆盖免耕保护性耕作提高了春小麦的水分利用效率(WUE)(NPS20,NS40,NPS40,NS20,NSB40,NSB20分别较CT提高58.02%,43.40%,47.27%,23.78%,20.69%,8.56%),但增加了小麦生育期土壤水分支出;不同处理在不同时期对土壤水分的影响不同。     

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).