China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (10): 4725-4733.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.10.018

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles    

Effects of Trace Element Supplementation on Growth Performance,Serum Biochemical, Immune Function and Rumen Fermentation in Lactating Grazing Ewes

WU Yinglian1,2, ZHANG Junyu1,2, LU Yuhua3, WANG Lele1,2, WANG Yan1,2, LIU Yanfeng1,2, QIN Rongyan1,2, WANG Wenqi1,2   

  1. 1. Feed Research Institute, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Academy of Animal Husbandry Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China;
    2. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology for Herbivorous Livestock, Urumqi 830011, China;
    3. Yumin County Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, Tacheng 834800, China
  • Received:2025-03-07 Published:2025-09-30

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementary feeding of trace elements (Cu,Se,Zn and I) on the growth performance,serum biochemical, immune function and rumen fermentation of grazing ewes.【Method】 Forty lactating Bashibai ewes with similar body weight (42.79 kg±5.72 kg) and similar parity were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups,with 8 replicates in each group and 1 ewe in each replicate.The experiment was set up with pure grazing group (CON),blank control group (CK),and low (L),medium (M),and high (H) level groups of trace elements.The pre-test period was 10 days,and the experimental period was 35 days.At the beginning and end of the experimental period,the ewes were weighed fasting in the morning.Blood was collected by vein puncture,and serum biochemical,antioxidant and immune indicators were measured.Rumen fluid was collected to determine pH,ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acid contents.【Result】 Supplementary feeding of trace elements increased the average daily gain of ewes,but there was no significant difference among the groups (P>0.05).Compared with CK group, the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the serum of ewes in group L was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) content in the serum were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The contents of acetate and total volatile fatty acids in the rumen of ewes in group L were significantly higher than that in group H (P<0.05),the contents of propionate and isobutyrate were significantly higher than those in groups M and H (P<0.05).【Conclusion】 Trace element supplementation could improve the antioxidant capacity,immune performance and rumen fermentation in lactating grazing ewes.Under this experimental conditions,the supplementary feeding effect was the best when the addition amounts of Cu,Se,Zn and I were 5.71,12.46,0.14 and 1.47 mg/kg, respectively.

Key words: grazing sheep; trace elements; growth performance; antioxidant capacity; rumen fermentation

CLC Number: