Effects of Tongmai Granule Residue on Slaughter Performance, Organ Index and Rumen Fermentation Parameters of Doper × Short-tail Han Ewes

Purpose To investigate the effects of the Tongmai granule residues (TGR) on slaughter performance, organ indexes, development of complex stomachs and rumen fermentation parameters in sheep.

Method Fifteen healthy Doper × Short-tail Han ewes with an average body weight of (29.64 ± 1.80) kg were randomly divided into 3 groups with 5 ewes in each group. They were control group (without TGR), 10% TGR group and 15% TGR group. The basic diet was prepared according to NY/T 816—2004. The ratio of concentrate to roughage was 6∶4, and it was slaughtered until the 76^th day.

Result (1) The eye muscle area decreased significantly with dietary supplementation of 15% TGR (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in pre-slaughter live weight, carcass weight and slaughter rate (P>0.05). (2) The kidney index in the 15% TGR group was significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in other organ indexes between the groups (P>0.05). (3) There was no significant difference in the absolute weight of rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, and their relative weights to pre-slaughter live weight in all groups (P>0.05). The ratio of rumen weight to compound stomach was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the ratio of abomasum weight to compound stomach was significantly decreased with dietary supplementation of 15% TGR (P<0.05). (4) The pH value and NH₃-N concentration in rumen of the 15% TGR group were significantly higher than those in the control group and 10% TGR group (P<0.05). But the concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and total volatile fatty acid in the rumen of the 15% TGR group were significantly lower than those in control group and 10% TGR group (P<0.05).

Conclusion It is concluded that 10% TGR in the diet is the appropriate level of supplementation for Doper × Short-tail Han ewes.