Mahgoub Osman, Osman Nur El Huda I E, Lu Christopher D
Animal Science Consulting, London, ON L9T 7W2, Canada.
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Sep 11;15(18):2658. doi: 10.3390/ani15182658.
Sheep and goats are essential in many parts of the world, providing meat, milk, and fiber while also aiding rural and low-income communities. The cost of feeding is a major factor in the overall expenses of animal production. Therefore, it is crucial to improve nutrient utilization and accurately assess nutrient needs. Sheep and goats in different parts of the world are raised under different systems influenced by variations in environmental conditions. In tropical areas, sheep and goats often consume low-quality diets that do not meet their production requirements. These substandard diets, which include high-fiber feeds like straw or hay, are commonly provided to small ruminants and can adversely impact their feed intake, digestion, and nutrient absorption. To address these shortcomings, these feeds are usually supplemented with high-energy and protein-rich ingredients. This is achieved by enhancing low-quality feeds and employing strategies such as enriched feed blocks. However, the feeding practices and utilization of sheep and goats are influenced by various factors, including climate, breed, and production system, all of which are critical to consider when assessing their feeding needs. For example, animals that are mobile, such as those in nomadic or grazing systems, expend considerable energy on movement, which requires supplementation. Additionally, an animal's body size, shaped by genetics, affects chewing rate, rumen pH, and bacterial composition. Meat production factors may be improved with proper use of NFs in small ruminants. This review explores the dietary needs of sheep and goats in relation to different production factors.
在世界许多地区，绵羊和山羊至关重要，它们提供肉、奶和纤维，还帮助农村和低收入社区。饲养成本是动物生产总费用中的一个主要因素。因此，提高养分利用率并准确评估养分需求至关重要。世界不同地区的绵羊和山羊在受环境条件变化影响的不同养殖系统下饲养。在热带地区，绵羊和山羊常常食用不符合其生产需求的低质量日粮。这些不合格日粮，包括稻草或干草等高纤维饲料，通常提供给小型反刍动物，可能对它们的采食量、消化和养分吸收产生不利影响。为解决这些不足，通常会用高能量和富含蛋白质的成分来补充这些饲料。这通过强化低质量饲料并采用诸如强化饲料块等策略来实现。然而，绵羊和山羊的饲养方式及利用率受多种因素影响，包括气候、品种和生产系统，在评估它们的饲养需求时，所有这些因素都至关重要。例如，流动性强的动物，如游牧或放牧系统中的动物，在移动上消耗大量能量，这需要补充营养。此外，由基因决定的动物体型会影响咀嚼速度、瘤胃pH值和细菌组成。在小型反刍动物中合理使用营养因子可能会改善肉类生产因素。本综述探讨了与不同生产因素相关的绵羊和山羊的日粮需求。
