A Comparison of Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, Rumen Fermentation, and Bacterial Community of Tibetan Sheep When Fattened by Pasture Grazing versus Stall Feeding.

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, Tibetan sheep only graze pastures without any supplementary feed. However, in recent years, feedlots are being used for fattening Tibetan sheep. The present study compared the growth rates, blood parameters, rumen fermentation, and bacterial communities in Tibetan sheep fattened by pasture grazing (PG) versus those fattened by stall feeding (SF). Twenty 18-month-old Tibetan sheep wethers (42.6 ± 2.11 kg) were divided randomly into PG (n = 10) and SF (n = 10) groups. The PG sheep grazed the grasslands without any supplementary feed, while the SF sheep were offered a commercial total mixed ration (TMR) at a crude protein content of 16.2% DM and an ME of 10.59 MJ/kg. The sheep were on their treatments for 70 days, which included 10 days for adaptation and 60 days for measuremen

SUBMITTER: Ji H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11509657 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature