Effects of fermented Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leaves on growth performance,rumen fermentation parameters,and serum indices in Small-tailed Han sheep
AN Qi
NIU Yanbo
FAN Chuan
WU Haoqiong
YUAN Tao
Abstract：This study investigated the effects of fermented Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leaves on the growth performance,rumen fermentation,and serum biochemical indices in Small-tailed Han sheep to support Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leaves's utilization in feed.Sixty healthy 4-month-old sheep with similar body weights were randomly assigned to four groups,three replicates in each group,five sheep in each replicate.The control group received a total mixed ration,while groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ were fed total mixed ration supplemented with 3％,6％,and 9％fermented Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leaves,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days and the formal test period was 60 days.The results showed that compared with the control group,the average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake of Small-tailed Han sheep in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the feed to gain ratio in group Ⅱ was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The pH values of the rumen fluid of Small-tailed Han sheep in groups Ⅱand Ⅲ was significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05),and the content of total volatile fatty acids was significantly higher than that in the control group and group Ⅰ(P＜0.05).The acetic acid content in the rumen fluid of group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that of the other groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the total protein(TP)content in the serum of Small-tailed Han sheep in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the triglyceride(TG)content was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The serum urea nitrogen(BUN)content of Small-tailed Han sheep in each experimental group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the concentrations of serum immunoglobulin G(IgG)and immunoglobulin M(IgM)in Small-tailed Han sheep of each experimental group were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the concentrations of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The study shows that supplementing 6％～9％fermented Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leaves can improved growth performance,rumen fermentation,lipid metabolism,and immunity in Small-tailed Han sheep.
Keywords：fermented Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leavesSmall-tailed Han sheepgrowth performancerumen fermentation parametersserum biochemical indices
Publication Date：2025-07-16
Online Publishing Date：2025-09-09(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 12-16 )