Effects of Replacing Alfalfa Hay With Native Grass Hay in Pelleted Total Mixed Ration on Physicochemical Parameters, Fatty Acid Profile, and Rumen Microbiota in Lamb.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing alfalfa with native grass on growth performance, meat quality, and rumen microbiota of lambs. Forty-five 6-month-old Ujimqin lambs with live body weight (BW) of 29.50 ± 0.26 kg were used for the experiment, and the lambs were assigned to three diet treatments (three pens per treatment and five lambs per pen) with 30 square meters per pen in semi-open housing based on similar BW. The lambs have received 30% alfalfa (HA, high alfalfa percentage group), 20% alfalfa (MA, moderate alfalfa percentage group), and 10% alfalfa (LA, low alfalfa percentage group) diets, respectively (dry matter basis). The diet treatments had a significant (P < 0.05) influence on the dry matter intake of lambs and the dry matter intake increased with the

SUBMITTER: Du S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9106545 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature