Effect Of Taraxacum Mongolicum On Rumen Fermentation And Growth Performance In Grazing Beef Cattle

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of taraxacum mongolicum on rumen fermentation and blood biochemical indicators, growth performance in grazing beef cattle. The experimental programs were composed of three experiments on present condition. Part1:Using the single factor and iterant experimental design, the experiment selected four holstein cows with permanent rumen fistula and similar body condition.Taking the mixed rumen liquor and adding different doses of taraxacum mongolicum to culture in vitro. Per milliliter of rumen fluid was added0mg (control group),5mg (low level group),10mg (middle level group),15mg (high level group) taraxacum mongolicum. Each group set five time points:2,4,8,12and24. There were three repeated samples in every point. Ruminal pH, gas production, the concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acids (VFA), microbial crude protein (MCP)and fiber hydrolytic enzymes were determined in this experiment. Part2:Under the same raising management condition, a total of16Sanjiang Plain healthy beef cattle with similar initial body weight were divided into4groups with4replicates of1each, which were fed with0.00kg (control group),0.05kg (low level group),0.10kg (middle level group),0.15kg (high level group) taraxacum mongolicum, respectively, according to concentrate supplementation weight of0.0%,2.0%,4.0%and6.0%. Pre-trial period was10d, the trial period was30d. The current study was performed to examine the effects of supplementation with taraxacum mongolicum on blood biochemical indexes and growth performance in grazing beef cattle.The results showed that:Part1:After adding taraxacum mongolicum, the gas production, NH3-N, MCP, TVFA and propionate concentrations of rumen fluid increased significantly than control (P<0.05). The pH, acetate/propionate of rumen fluid had a tendency to reduce, but there were no significant differences between treatment and control groups(P>0.05). The acetate,butyrate and fiber hydrolytic enzymes of rumen fluid had a tendency to increase, but there were no significant differences between treatment and control groups(P>0.05).Part2:In the grazing beef cattle fed with taraxacum mongolicum meal, the glucose, total protein, globulin, Cl, Ca and AKP concentrations in serum were significantly increased (P<0.05). The urea nitrogen and AST concentrations in serum was significantly deceased (P<0.05). The albumin, total cholesterol, total triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein in serum had a tendency to reduce, but there were no significant differences between treatment and control groups(P>0.05). The Na, P, Mg, ALT and LDH concentrations in serum had a tendency to increase, but there were no significant differences between treatment and control groups(P>0.05).2)In the grazing beef cattle fed with taraxacum mongolicum meal, the daily gain and increased quantity of chest circumference were significantly increased (P<0.05). The daily gain of middle and high levels group were30.90%and37.84%higher than that of low level group,39.30%and46.69%higher than that of control group.Considering all factors in this condition, the results were indicated that taraxacum mongolicum can influence rumen fermentation and blood biochemical indicators. The effect of taraxacum mongolicum on increases heavily in grazing beef cattle is significant.