The Effect Of Wasted Chinese Jujube On Ruminal Fermentation And Productive Performance In Beef Cattle

In vitro dual-flow continuous culture system and feeding-slaughtering trial were conducted in this study in order to investigate the effect of wasted Chinese dates on ruminal fermentation, growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass quality in beef catties.Expt.1. Six levels (0%,5%,10%,15%,20% and 25%) of Chinese-dates diets were designed to evaluate the effect of Chinese dates on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility in dual-flow continuous culture system. Rumen fluid was obtained from Jinnan cattle. During 36 days experimental cycle, fermentation tanks were fed 4 times a day and its contents were collected at the last 3 day. The results showed that, the pH of fermenter fluid was unchanged (P>0.05) with Chinese dates supplementation, while total VFA increased and molar percentage of acetic acid and acetate-to-propionate ratios decreased (P<0.05). Besides, DM, OM and NFE digestibility was linear (L; P<0.01) and quadratic increased significantly with increased Chinese-dates supplementation. In addition, T-AOC, GSH-PX, SOD, and DPPH radicals of fermenter contents were quadratic increased (Q; P<0.01) significantly with supplemental Chinese dates. And the optimal does was 15%.Expt.2. Ruminal fermentation, digestibility, blood biochemical indices, growth performance, and feed conversion rate, slaughtering performance, carcass traits and beef quality were all determined in 25 Simmental bulls with six levels (0%,5%,10%,15%,20% and 25%) of Chinese-dates diets. The feeding trial was conducted in 12 weeks and bulls were slaughtered in the end. The results showed that, Chinese-dates has no influence (P>0.05) on ruminal pH, but there is a decreasing tendency (P<0.1) for NH3-N concentration. Moreover, total VFA and propionate had an increasing tendency (P<0.1). In addition, T-AOC, GSH-PX, SOD, and DPPH radicals increased among treatments as Chinese dates addition levels increased. Digestibility of DM, OM CP and EE was similar among treatments, but those of NDF and ADF were significantly reduced (P<0.05). Blood parameters did not differ significantly among treatments (P>0.05), while antioxidant activity increased. Dietary Chinese-dates improved DMI, ADG and feed efficiency of beef cattle (P<0.05), with 15% added group was significant. In the end, dressing percentage, net meat percentage, bones:muscles, fat thickness, rib eye area, marbling score, shear force, cooking loss, pH value, meat colour, meat moisture, protein, fat and ash were not enhanced (P>0.05) significantly with Chinese dates supplementation, suggesting that wasted Chinese dates would not affect the slaughtering performance, carcass traits and beef quality in this experiment.In summery, ruminal fermentation, feed conversion rate, production performance and beef quality were all promoted and improvedwith Chinese-dates supplementation. And the optimal does was 15% levels.