Effects Of Fresh Alfalfa On Ruminant Metabolism And Production Performance Of Boer Goat

Effects of Fresh Alfalfa on ruminant metabolism and production performance of Boer Goat was studied in this paper. The firsr experiment:Four boer goats of 39.8kg,with permanent cannulas in the rumen were used in a 4 X 4 Latin square trail to study the effects of different fresh alfalfa instead of cutting groundnut on nutritive elements degradability and ruminant traits of crude feed.The results showed that: (1) In the same degradeable time,DM and CP of group III are both extremely significantly higher than that of CK(P<0.01),and through six,twelve, seventy-two hours are also extremely significantly higher than that of groupI(P<0.01), significantly higher than that of group II(P<0.05); DM and CP of group III are also higher than that of group I (P<0.05).While in the same level, DM of group III through six hours is extremely significantly lower than that through seventy-two hours.(2) In the same degradeable time, NDF and ADFof group II are both extremely significantly higher than that of CK(P<0.01).Six hours later is also extremely significantly higher than that of groupI(P<0.01),twelve twenty-four and forty-eight hours later NDF of group II has extremely significant difference with that of other groups(P<0.01),and seventy-two hours later also has extremely significant difference with that of groupIII(P<0.01); six,twelve hours later has significant difference with that of group I(P<0.05). While in the same level,NDF of groupII through seventy-two hours are all extremely significantly higher than that of groupI,II and III through six,twelve,twenty-four and forty-eight hours; ADF of group II through seventy-two hours has extremely significant difference with that of it through six hours(P<0.01), has significant difference with that of it through twelve hours(P<0.05),but has no significant difference with that of it through twenty-four and forty-eight hours(P>0.05).(3)In the same collected time,with fresh alfalfa rising,acetic acid content in the rumen rises firstly, then decreases;propionnic acid content has no obvious rule,but butyric acid content increases on the whole. While in the same level ,as time is different, acetic acid and butyric acid conten of each group have a firstly-rising,then-decreasing, and rising-again trend,and group II is better;propionnic acid content has a firstly-rising,then-decreasing one. (4) In the same collected time,with fresh alfalfa increasing,NH₃-N content is on the rise gradually but nine o'clock,and that of groupâ…¡is highest. While in the same level,except CK,as time is different, NH₃-N content of other group have a firstly-rising,then-decreasing, and rising-again trend.(5)The level of fresh alfalfa and collected time have no significant effects on pH in the rumen(P＞0.05).As a whole,the amount of fresh alfalfa instead of cutting groundnut is 30ï¼…,the digestion and metabolism of Boer Goat is best.The second experiment was conducted using 45 boer goats to study the effect of fresh alfalfa on growth performance and serum physiological and biochemical parameter.Goats were randomly divided into five treatments according to a random factorial arrangement.Goats were fed diet with 0ï¼…, 15ï¼…, 30ï¼…, 45ï¼…and 60ï¼…fresh alfalfa insead of cutting groundnut during the phrase of 59 days. The results showed that: (1) Groupâ…¡were superior in average individual daily weight gain, feed/meat ratio to that of no fresh alfalfa treatment (P＞0.05).Although the two groups had no significant difference,it also showed that 30ï¼…fresh alfalfa has an active effect on growth performance.Groupâ… ,â…¢were were superior to that of, and inferior to groupâ…¡.But groupâ…£was inferior to no fresh alfalfa treatment (2)Serum total protein,serum globluin content of groupâ…¡were extremely significantly higher than that of no fresh alfalfa treatment (P＜0.01) and serum alblumin content was significantly higher than that of no fresh alfalfa treatment (P＜0.05) while total and HDL were significantly lower than that no fresh alfalfa treatment (P＜0.005). But blood glucose, blood NPN, TG, LDL and cholesterol have no significant difference (P＞0.005). (3) Economic profit of goats fed diets with 30ï¼…fresh alfalfa instead of cutting groundnut was best.The third experiment:After the second experiment,15 healthy male lambs at 6 months were slaughtered. The results showed that:(1)Eye muscle area (cm²) of groupâ…¡has significant difference with those of other groups(P＜0.05),and was extremely significant than that of groupâ…£(P＜0.01). Carcass weght(kg),dressing percentage (ï¼…),lean meat weight and lean meat percentage of groupâ…¡are highest while skeletal muscle weght and skeletal muscle/muscle ratio are lowest.So carcass performance has been improved.(2)pH of groupâ…¡in breast muscle is lowest and has extremely significant difference with those of no fresh alfalfa group, groupâ…¢and groupâ…£(P＜0.01);EE of groupâ…¡is highest and has significant differentce with that of no fresh alfalfa group(P＜0.05). Shear force and fibre diameter in muscle of groupâ…¡is smallest but CP is highest;Linolenic content is also highest and extremely significantly higher than those of CK,groupâ… and groupâ…£(P＜0.01);linoleic content is also highest and significantly higher than those of no fresh alfalfa group and 15ï¼…group(P＜0.05) but stearic content is lowest and has significant difference with that of no fresh alfalfa group. (3)SOD of groupâ…¡group is highest too while MDA is lowest.Therefore,30ï¼…fresh alfalfa instead of cutting groundnut not only has decreased special smell of mutton but also increased its flavour and antioxidant activity, so mutton quality has been improved.