Effects of two total mixed diets on growth performance and serum biochemical indexes of ewes bred by F1 generation of Suffolk and Tibetan sheep crossbred in cold season house feeding.

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of two total mixed diets on the growth performance and serum biochemical indexes of 25~35 kg Suffolk and Tibetan sheep crossbred F1 ewe under cold season house feeding conditions. Twenty-one ewes bred in F1 generation of Suffolk and Tibetan sheep hybrid with similar body condition and phenotype were randomly divided into three groups with seven replicates in each group and one sheep in each replicate. Group D (CP 14.26%, ME 12.93 MJ/kg) and Group G (CP 15.06%, ME 11.67 MJ/kg) were fed total mixed diets with different protein and energy levels, while the control group was fed alfalfa and oat hay. The pre-test period was seven days, and the formal test period was 60 days. The results showed that the average daily gain from 1 to 30 days, the average daily gain from 31 to 60 days, the average daily gain from 1 to 60 days, and the average daily gain from 1 to 60 days in Group G were significantly higher than those in Group D and control group (P<0.05), while the feed-to-weight ratio from 31 to 60 days and 1 to 60 days were significantly lower than those in Group D (P<0.05). The average daily feed intake and feed-weight ratio from 1 to 30 days, and average daily feed intake from from 31 to 60 days and 1 to 60 days in Group D were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The serum glucose, total cholesterol, and lactate dehydrogenase activity in Group G were significantly higher than those in Group D and control group (P<0.05), the serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activity in Group G was significantly higher than that in Group D and control group (P<0.05), the serum albumin and calcium contentrations in Group D were significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05), the serum total bile acid and inorganic phosphorus content in Group D were significantly higher than that in and control group (P<0.05), and the serum urea nitrogen content in Group D and Group G was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The study indicates that feeding total mixed diet to F1 ewe of Suffolk and Tibetan hybrid in cold season can improve the growth performance, and the feeding effect of group G is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]