Effects of feeding different energy levels of diets to perinatal ewes on growth performance,antioxidant,immune function,and hormone of lambs

LI Xiaoyan; ZHANG Jinxue; YAN Binglian; WEI Xiaoyan; ZHANG Jianpeng; YANG Weigang

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.16.004

Abstract：This experiment aimed to the effects of feeding different energy levels of diets to ewes in the perinatal period on the growth performance,antioxidant indexes,immune function,and hormones of lambs.A total of 60 breeding ewes with similar expected dates were randomly divided into three groups,with four replicates in each group and five lambs in each replicate.In the control group,trial group 1 and trial group 2,ewes were fed diets with the same protein level and metabolized energy level of 8.86(control),9.65,and 7.91 MJ/kg during the perinatal period,respectively.The test period was from 30 days before delivery to 30 days after delivery.The results showed that body weight at 30 days of age and average daily gain of lambs in trial group 1 were significantly higher than those in the other groups(P＜0.05).The body length at birth,body lenghth and chest circumference at 30 days of age in trial group 1 and the control group were significantly higher than that in trial group 2(P＜0.05).The body height at birth,body height and chest circumference at 30 days of age in trial group 1 were significantly higher than that in the control group and trial group 2(P＜0.05).The activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in trial group 1 were significantly higher than that in the other groups(P＜0.05),and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly higher than that in the other groups(P＜0.05).The activity of catalase in the control group and trial group 1 was significantly higher than that of trial group 2(P＜0.05).The immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M concentrations in trial group 1 were significantly higher than those in trial group 2(P＜0.05).The concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 and growth hormone in trial group 1 were significantly higher than those in the other groups(P＜0.05),and the content of triiodothyronine in trial group 2 was significantly lower than that in the other groups(P＜0.05).The results show that when the dietary energy level of ewes during the perinatal period is 9.65 MJ/kg,it can effectively increase the birth weight and body size indicators of lambs,and improve the antioxidant function and immune function of lambs.