The Effect of Silage on the Growth Performance, Blood Physiological Parameters, Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immune Response, Antioxidant Capacity, and Rumen Bacteria of Kazakh Lamb.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that is an unconventional feed resource with significant developmental potential. This research aimed to explore the effects of silage on the growth performance, blood parameters, immunity, antioxidation, cytokine levels, and rumen bacterial composition of Kazakh lamb. Forty healthy male Kazakh lambs, aged 5 months and weighing 30.12 ± 1.14 kg, were randomly divided into control and experimental groups, each consisting of four replicates (five lambs per replicate). The control group was fed a basal diet, while the experimental group received a diet supplemented with 20% silage (dry matter basis). Following a 10-day pre-feeding period, a 60-day formal experiment was conducted. The results indicated no significant difference in growth performance between the experimental and control groups. However, compared to the control group, the use of silage significantly reduced ( < 0.05) neutrophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts, as well as creatinine levels in the blood. Furthermore, silage ( < 0.01) enhanced total serum antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8, and decreased malondialdehyde and interleukin-4 levels. Additionally, the use of silage increased the diversity and richness of the rumen bacterial community, notably enhancing the relative abundance of such as and . In conclusion, feeding Kazakh lamb with silage (20% DM) did not adversely affect their growth performance but improved their immunity and antioxidant capacity and enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the rumen, thereby promoting animal health.