The effects of milk replacer allowance and weaning age on the performance, nutrients digestibility, and ruminal microbiota communities of lambs

Zhang, Qian; Li, Chong; Niu, Xiaolin; Zhang, Zhian; Li, Fadi; Li, Fēi

doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.114263

Cited by 16 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The concentration of lactic acid in the ruminal fluid was analyzed following the instructions of the lactic acid determination kit (A019-2-1, Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, Nanjing, China). The NH 3 -N in the rumen fluid was analyzed following the method of Zhang et al ( 18 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Dietary Barley Starch Contents on the Performance, Nutrient Digestion, Rumen Fermentation, and Bacterial Community of Fattening Hu Sheep

Zhou

Guo

et al. 2022

Front. Nutr.

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The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of substituting corn starch (CS) with barley starch (BS) on the growth performance, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation, and bacterial community of fattening Hu sheep. Seventy-two Hu lambs with similar initial body weight (BW, 29.70 ± 1.70 kg) were randomly assigned to four treatments, with 18 lambs per group. The four experimental diets have identical starch contents but with different starch sources as 100% starch from corn (BS-0), 33% starch from barley and 67% starch from corn (BS-33), 67% starch form barley and 33% starch from corn (BS-67), and 100% starch from barley (BS-100). All lambs were reared in individual units and fed high-concentrate diets (85% concentrate in diets based on dry matter [DM]). The experimental period included 7 days for adaptation and 63 days for data collection. Sixteen ruminal cannulated Hu sheep were divided into 4 groups and received the four experimental diets to determine the dynamics of ruminal pH. The average daily gain (ADG), and BW gain of lambs linearly decreased (p < 0.05), whereas the feed to gain ratio linearly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary proportions of BS. Digestibility of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, starch, and gross energy (GE) decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary BS contents. Ruminal mean pH decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing proportions of dietary BS, accompanied with linearly increased (p < 0.05) time and area of ruminal pH below 5.80 or 5.60. Increasing dietary proportions of BS linearly decreased (p < 0.05) the molar proportion of acetate, but linearly increased (p < 0.05) the molar proportion of propionate. Sheep of the BS-0 and BS-33 treatments had a less (p < 0.05) relative abundance of Selenomonas ruminantium than that of sheep of the BS-67 treatment, but a greater (p < 0.05) relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus than that of sheep of the BS-100 treatment (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding a high-concentrate corn-based diet for fattening Hu sheep improved the performance and rumen fermentation parameters when compared to the barley-based diet.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Dietary Barley Starch Contents on the Performance, Nutrient Digestion, Rumen Fermentation, and Bacterial Community of Fattening Hu Sheep

Zhou

Guo

et al. 2022

Front. Nutr.

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“…Care for lambs from birth to weaning is crucial to the success of sheep farming because such care maximizes weight and determines the age of weaning. For early weaning of lambs between 45 and 60 d of age, it is necessary to provide supplements that produce higher performance and better health, in addition to promoting adequate ruminal development and helping the animal consume solid feed ( Slukwa, 2014 ; Zhang et al., 2019 ). Nursing lambs that have higher feed efficiency will have better performance; however, to accomplish this goal, it is important that the lambs eat quality solid feed, coupled with less milk to facilitate early weaning ( Ciria et al., 2009 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary supplementation with curcumin-loaded nanocapsules in lambs: Nanotechnology as a new tool for nutrition

et al. 2021

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Curcumin-containing nanocapsule powder formulations have not been used in ruminant feed to date, despite the fact that curcumin is known to be a functional food additive. The objective of this study was to determine whether ethyl polymethacrylate (Eudragit L-100) nanocapsules loaded with curcumin (N-CU) would improve health and growth of lambs. Thirty-two male Lacaune lambs (body weight [BW] = 16 ± 0.99 kg; 45 d of age) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: T0, T1, T2 and T4, representing supplementation of curcumin at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg concentrate, respectively. The animals in each treatment were allocated in 4 pens of 2 lambs each (8 lambs per treatment). The experiment lasted 17 d, with samples and measurements collected on d 0, 7, 12, and 17. The T2 lambs had greater average daily gain than T0 lambs. Regression analysis showed that the ideal dose of N-CU to enhance weight gain was 1.89 mg/kg concentrate. There were significant interactions ( P < 0.05) between treatments × time for hematological variables, particularly for increases in erythrocytes (T2) and reductions in counts of leukocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in T1 and T2. There were significant interactions between treatment × time for total protein, globulin, urea, and triglyceride levels. Stimulation of the antioxidant system was also observed. There were increased levels of non-protein thiols (NPSH), as well as increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the supplemented animals. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were lower in the serum of supplemented lambs. In general, the 4 mg/kg dose had no positive effects on growth or health. This was an unexpected result, given the known properties of curcumin. Taken together, these findings suggest that addition of low concentrations of nanoencapsulated curcumin (T1 and T2) in lamb feed improves health, minimizing oxidative stress and generates anti-inflammatory effects that may have contributed indirectly to greater weight gain. Nanocapsules potentiate the effects of curcumin and may emerge as a new tool in animal nutrition.

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“…Our previous study suggested that when starter was offered at day 15 of age, lambs separated from their dams at 20 days of age and artificially fed milk replacer had superior growth performance than their ewe-reared counterparts at the end of the feeding trial (90 days of age) [10]. Recently, it was suggested that weaning age (21 or 35 days of age) and milk replacer feeding level had limited effect on apparent digestibility of nutrients, ruminal microbiota, and fermentation of lambs at 50 days [11]. However, artificial rearing may increase the cost due to the involvement of milk replacer, labor, and feeding facilities [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Age and Weaning on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Parameters in Lambs Fed Starter with Limited Ewe–Lamb Interaction

Wang

Zhao

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple SummaryEarly weaning is a common practice in the modern lamb industry, which shortens the breeding cycle of ewes and improves the flock productivity by increasing the frequency of lambing. Recently, it was suggested that weaning age (21 or 35 days of age) and milk replacer feeding level had limited effect on apparent digestibility of nutrients in lambs. However, artificial rearing may increase the cost due to the use of milk replacer, labor, and feeding facilities. In this study, we compared the difference in growth performance of lambs weaned at 21 days (early weaning) and 49 days (conventional weaning) of age. All lambs were initially reared with ewes and supplemented with starter at 7 days of age. The results showed that diarrhea rate was increased when lambs were weaned at 21 days of age while average daily gain was decreased. Early weaning reduced average daily gain without compromising lambs’ overall immunity. In conclusion, early weaning (21 days of age) may have a negative impact on lambs’ performance based on a short-term study.AbstractSixty neonatal Hu lambs were weaned at either 21 (n = 30) (early weaning, EW) or 49 days (n = 30) of age (control, CON). The starter intake and body weight (BW) of lambs was recorded weekly from birth to 63 days of age. Diarrhea rate of lambs was measured from birth to 35 days. Six randomly selected lambs from each treatment were slaughtered at 26, 35, and 63 days of age, respectively. Ruminal pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, as well as serum parameters including immunity, antioxidant status, and inflammatory parameters from randomly selected lambs from each treatment were measured. There was no difference in BW at birth and day 21 between the two groups of lambs (p > 0.05). However, BW of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) from 28 to 49 days of age. Average daily gain (ADG) of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) at three weeks after early weaning. Starter intake of the lambs in the EW group was obviously higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.01) from day 28 to 49. In addition, the diarrhea rate was significantly higher than that in the CON group from day 5 to 14 after weaning (p < 0.01). The EW group had heavier carcasses (p < 0.01) and rumen relative to whole stomach weights (p < 0.01). Rumen pH was increased by age (p < 0.01) and was not affected by early weaning (p > 0.05). Early weaning decreased abomasum relative to whole stomach weight (p < 0.01) and increased total VFA concentrations (p < 0.01) at day 26. There was no difference in lambs’ immunity and stress indicators (p > 0.05). The results indicated that lambs weaned at 21 days of age had decreased ADG and higher diarrhea rate, although the overall immunity was not compromised. Long-term study is needed to further validate the feasibility of early weaning strategy in lambs.

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The effects of milk replacer allowance and weaning age on the performance, nutrients digestibility, and ruminal microbiota communities of lambs

Cited by 16 publications

References 46 publications

Effects of Dietary Barley Starch Contents on the Performance, Nutrient Digestion, Rumen Fermentation, and Bacterial Community of Fattening Hu Sheep

Effects of Dietary Barley Starch Contents on the Performance, Nutrient Digestion, Rumen Fermentation, and Bacterial Community of Fattening Hu Sheep

Dietary supplementation with curcumin-loaded nanocapsules in lambs: Nanotechnology as a new tool for nutrition

Effect of Age and Weaning on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Parameters in Lambs Fed Starter with Limited Ewe–Lamb Interaction

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