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Stall-Feeding of Sheep on Restricted Grazing: Effects on Performance and Serum Metabolites, Ruminal Fermentation, and Fecal Microbiota

Authors :
Mengyu Zhao
Xiaoan Zhang
Yao Chen
Chunhuan Ren
Yiming Sun
Penghui Wang
Xiao Cheng
Zijun Zhang
Jiahong Chen
Yafeng Huang
Source :
Animals, Vol 13, Iss 16, p 2644 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of three feeding systems, indoor feeding (CONT), indoor feeding with time-restricted grazing artificial pasture (4 h/day, G4H), and indoor feeding with an eight-hour daily grazing artificial pasture (G8H), on the growth performance, serum metabolites, ruminal fermentation, and fecal microbiota composition of lambs. Average daily gain showed a tendency (p = 0.081) to be higher for the G4H group compared with the CONT group. Moreover, feeding systems did not have a significant effect on most of the serum biochemical indicators in lambs. Concentrations of serum glutathione peroxidase and immunoglobulins (IgA, gG, and IgM) were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the CONT group. Additionally, a tendency towards higher levels of volatile fatty acids, acetate, and butyrate was found in animals of the G4H group compared to the CONT group. Furthermore, fecal microbiota composition was altered in G4H and G8H groups, resulting in the increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, as well as the decreased relative abundance of Ruminobacter compared with the CONT group. Overall, these results suggest that indoor feeding with restricted grazing time does not significantly affect fattening performance or rumen fermentation but enhances antioxidation and immune function activity and also alters fecal microbiota composition.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20762615
Volume :
13
Issue :
16
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Animals
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.2bbb2c051bd6448ab05adcaf491c8dbc
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13162644