The Effect Of Feeding Pellet Diets On The Intake, Digestion And Metabolism Of Pregnant Ewes

Abstract:16adult Small Tail Han ewes, with body weight of53kg, were randomLy dividedinto4groups (each n=4),and from the50th day of pregnancy the ewes were fed the grounddiet(group1) or pellet diet(PD)(group2) with roughage-type ration (stalk67%),and the grounddiet(group3) or PD(group4) with concentrate-type ration (stalk50%) respectively, and carried ontwice of digestion-metabolism experiments at the60-76d and120-136d of pregnancy, to studythe effect of feeding PDs on the intake, digestion and metabolism of pregnant ewes. The resultsshown that under the conditions of roughage-type ration(RTR) and concentrate-type ration(CTR),by feeding PD the OM voluntary intake of ewes was increased by44.8%and46.6%respectivelyat early pregnant stage (EPS), and58.7%and58.5%respectively at later pregnant stage(LPS); theOM apparent digestibility was decreased by6.2%and6.0%respectively at EPS, and8.0%and1.6%respectively at LPS; the crude protein apparent digestibility was decreased by10.7%and2.3%respectively at EPS, and4.8%and3.9%respectively at LPS; the digestibility of energy wasdecreased by2.9%and5.7%respectively at EPS, and0.5%and8.2%respectively at LPS.However, under the conditions of RTR and CTR, by feeding PD the digested OM amount of eweswas increased by19.7%and37.0%respectively at EPS, and65.8%and46.3%respectively at LPS;the digested OM amount of ewes was increased by39.4%and30.4%respectively at EPS, and60.1%and56.4%respectively at LPS; the amount of digestible energy was by54.6%and36.8%respectively at EPS, and105.2%and63.8%respectively at LPS. Under the conditions of RTR andCTR, by feeding PD the nitrogen retention of ewes was increased by74.5%and44.7%respectively at EPS, and101.1%and73.4%respectively at LPS; the birth weight of lamb wasincreased by27.9%and35.7%respectively. It is concluded that by feeding PD the voluntaryintake of pregnant ewes could be increased; the digestibility of diet has the tendency to decrease,but the digested amount is increased very significantly; by feeding PD the nitrogen retention ofewes and the birth weight of lamb are increased. Therefore, feeding PD is an effective way for theincreasing nutrient supply to pregnant ewes.