Effects of different dietary energy levels on apparent digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and growth performance of Tibetan sheep under low nitrogen conditions

doi:10.11686/cyxb2017443

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different dietary energy levels on the apparent digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and growth performance of Tibetan sheep under low nitrogen conditions, and thus to provide useful references for the supplementary feeding of alpine ruminants during the cold season. Twenty-four healthy, 1.5-year-old castrated Tibetan sheep with similar body weights (48.5±1.89 kg)were selected and then divided into four treatment groups: LE (low energy), MLE (medium low energy), MHE (medium high energy) and HE (high energy). Each group included 6 replicates. Diets were formulated to have similar crude protein (CP) content (6.97%±0.05%) but four different digestible energy levels: 8.23, 9.31, 10.45 and 11.57 MJ·kg^-1 respectively. The animals were fed these diets for 49 days, with total collection of feces and urine for analysis. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Dry matter (DM), CP and gross energy (GE) intakes were similar among the four groups, whereas DM and GE apparent digestibilities all increased linearly with rising dietary energy levels (P<0.05). 2) Serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentration decreased linearly as dietary energy increased (P<0.05) while urea nitrogen (BUN) increased (P<0.05). 3) As dietary energy levels increased, urinary nitrogen excretion decreased linearly (P<0.05); however, the nitrogen balance and nitrogen deposition rates both increased (P<0.05). There was a strong linear regression between nitrogen deposition rates (NDR, %) and dietary energy levels (DE, MJ·kg^-1): NDR=5.2143DE-39.006 (R²=0.9616,n=24). 4) With the exception of the low energy group, all the average daily gain (ADG) values were positive and increased linearly with dietary energy (P<0.05).These results indicate that while the energy and protein requirements of Tibetan sheep are relatively low their apparent digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and growth performance could be improved with supplements of dietary energy.

Key words: Tibetan sheep, dietary energy level, apparent digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, growth performance

KANG Jing-peng, WANG Wen-ji, GUO Ya-min, JING Xiao-ping, ZHONG Chong-liang, GUO Wei, LONG Rui-jun, ZHOU Jian-wei. Effects of different dietary energy levels on apparent digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and growth performance of Tibetan sheep under low nitrogen conditions[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2018, 27(9): 166-174.

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