Effects of Salvia sclarea L.extract on growth performance and digestive function of lambs

MA Xiaoling; NAN Shanshan; NIU Yujie; ZHANG Wenju

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.01.002

Abstract：The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of Salvia sclarea L.extract on the growth performance and digestive function of lambs.A total of 60 Chinese Merino lambs,aged two months and weighing(20.00±2.00)kg,were randomly divided into five groups with an equal number of males and females,with 12 replicates per group and one lamb per replicate.The control group(CK group)was fed a basal diet,while the CL1,CL2,CL3,and CL4 groups were supplemented with 0.04,0.08,0.12,and 0.16 mL/kg of Salvia sclarea L.extract in the basal diet,respectively.The pre-test lasted for 10 days and the experiment lasted for 70 days.The results showed that the live weight before slaughter of the CL4 group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05),while there was no significant difference between the other groups and the control group(P＞0.05).With the increase of Salvia sclarea L.extract additive,the carcass weight of each experimental group showed an increasing trend(P＞0.05),and the differences in dressing percentage,carcass lean weight,carcass lean rate,and eye muscle area between each test group and the control group were not significant(P＞0.05).The heart index of the lambs in the CL2 group was significantly higher than that of the other groups(P＜0.05),the lung index was significantly higher than that of the CL3 group(P＜0.05),and the rumen index was significantly lower than that of the CL4 group(P＜0.05).The abomasum index of the lambs in the CL3 group was significantly higher than that of the control,CL2,and CL4 groups(P＜0.05).The water loss rate of the longest back muscle in the lambs of the CL2 and CL3 groups was significantly lower than that of the other groups(P＜0.05),and the shear force of the CL1,CL2,and CL3 groups was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The study indicates that the addition of 0.16 mL/kg of Salvia sclarea L.extract can improve the growth performance and slaughter performance of lambs,and enhance the organ indices and meat quality.