Abstract: Four male Xinjiang Merino sheep,with 40 kg of average live weight,fitted with permanent cannulas in the rumen,were supplemented with three dosages (0,4,8 g/sheep·d)of Copper complexes derived from Schiff’s base of Lysine in three periods respectively to study the effect of Copper complexes derived from Schiff’s base of Lysine on rumen fermentation. The results showed that the intake of DM of corn straw was increased 12.5％at the level of 8 g/sheep·d（P＜0.05）. The dosage of 4 g/sheep·d had no effect on rumen pH value（P＞0.05）,but that of 8 g/sheep·d tended to slow up the decrease of rumen pH value 3 h after feeding. The dosage of 4 g/sheep·d did not influence the concentration of ammonia nitrogen（P＞0.05）,but that of 8 g/sheep·d decreased the concentration of ruminal ammonia nitrogen. The ruminal concentrations of acetic and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) were decreased,however,the propionic acid and butyric acid were increased,and rumen fermentation type was changed from acetic to propionic acid after addition of the Copper complexes derived from Schiff’s base of Lysine. This experiment indicated that the Copper complexes derived from Schiff base of Lysine could regulate the rumen fermentation. 

Key words: copper complexes derived from Schiff’s base of Lysine; sheep; rumen fermentation