Effects and mechanism of the timing of alfalfa hay supplementation on rumen development of Hu lambs.

ABSTRACT: The present study investigated the effects of alfalfa hay supplementation at different time points on rumen development in pre-weaning lambs and its underlying mechanisms. Thirty-six 7-day-old lambs (3.88 ± 0.92 kg) were randomly allocated to two feeding treatments, with 18 lambs in each group. Three lambs were housed together in the same pen as a single unit. After 7 days of adaptation to the milk replacer (MR), one group received MR and starter pellets, along with chopped alfalfa starting at 14 d of age (EAF), and the other group received the same diet but with chopped alfalfa introduced at 42 d of age (LAF). All lambs had ad libitum access to starter pellets and chopped alfalfa. At 42, 56, and 70 d of age, six lambs were randomly selected from each treatment group for slaughter. Rumen c

SUBMITTER: Li K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12391868 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature