Mao Huiling, Wang Chong, Yu Zhongtang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an 311300, China.
Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311300, China.
Animals (Basel). 2019 Jun 14;9(6):356. doi: 10.3390/ani9060356.
This study aimed to determine effects of weaning ages on growth, rumen development, and carcass characteristics and meat quality of Hu lambs. Thirty male Hu lambs were randomly divided into two weaning age groups: Weaned at 30 (W30) or 45 (W45) d of age. Blood samples were collected on the day of weaning before lambs ( = 5) were slaughtered, and then rumen sample was collected immediately after they were slaughtered. The intake of all feeds increased with age ( < 0.05), but were not affected by weaning age ( > 0.05). Oxidative stress indicators and immune variables, the plasma biochemical parameters did not differ between the two different weaning ages ( > 0.05). The two weaning age groups also had similar ( > 0.05) concentration of ruminal total volatile fatty acid. The two weaning age groups did not differ in body weight, carcass characteristics, or meat quality ( > 0.05) at d 120. These results indicate that weaning half a month earlier than the typical weaning age does not significantly affect the growth, ruminal development, or carcass characteristics of Hu lambs, and they can be weaned at 30 d of age to improve production efficiency.
本研究旨在确定断奶年龄对湖羊羔羊生长、瘤胃发育、胴体特性及肉质的影响。30只雄性湖羊羔羊被随机分为两个断奶年龄组：30日龄（W30）或45日龄（W45）断奶。在断奶当天、羔羊（n = 5）屠宰前采集血样，然后在其屠宰后立即采集瘤胃样本。所有饲料的摄入量均随年龄增加（P < 0.05），但不受断奶年龄影响（P > 0.05）。氧化应激指标和免疫变量方面，两个不同断奶年龄组的血浆生化参数无差异（P > 0.05）。两个断奶年龄组的瘤胃总挥发性脂肪酸浓度也相似（P > 0.05）。在120日龄时，两个断奶年龄组在体重、胴体特性或肉质方面无差异（P > 0.05）。这些结果表明，比典型断奶年龄提前半个月断奶对湖羊羔羊的生长、瘤胃发育或胴体特性无显著影响，并且可以在30日龄断奶以提高生产效率。
