Effects of autumn supplementary feeding on serum biochemical indexes of Oula sheep at different ages.

The experiment aimed to explore the effects of autumn supplementary feeding on the serum biochemical indexes of Oula sheep at different age stages. A total of 24 healthy and similar-conditioned Oula ewes at the ages of 6, 12, and 36 months were selected for each age group. The Oula sheep at each age stage were randomly divided into a grazing group (group 1) and a grazing + supplementary feeding group (group 1), with three replicates in each group and four sheep in each replicate. The pre-feeding period was 10 days and the formal experimental period was 60 days. The results showed that the average daily weight gain of the group ii was higher than that of the group i for 6-month-old and 12-month-old sheep ( P<0.05). In 6-month-old sheep of the group i, the serum E2 and GH levels were higher than those in the group i ( P<0.05). In 12-month-old and 36-month-old sheep of the group i, the ALP activity was higher than that in the group i( P<0.05). In 6-month-old sheep of the group i, the serum GLB level was higher than that in the group i( P<0.05). In 12-month-old sheep of the group, the IL-2 level was higher than that in the group ( P<0.05). In 36-month-old sheep of the group, the levels of GLB, IgM, IL-4, and IL-6 were higher than those in the group ( P<0.05). In 6-month-old sheep of the group, the serum GSH-Px activity was higher than that in the group ( P<0.05). In 12-month-old and 36-month-old sheep of the group, the SOD activity was higher than that in the group ( P<0.05). The study suggests that autumn supplementary feeding promotes the rapid maturation of 6-month-old ewes, enhances the growth, metabolic capacity, immune function, and antioxidant ability at different age in Oula sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]