Effects of Stevia rebaudiana extract on growth performance,antioxidant function,and meat quality of mutton sheep

LIU Yan; HAO Zhenfang; CHEN Gongyi; WANG Shenfeng

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.18.005

Abstract：The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of Stevia rebaudiana extract on the growth performance,antioxidant function,and meat quality of mutton sheep.A total of 48 healthy three month old Hu sheep were selected and randomly divided into four groups,with four replicates per group and three sheep per replicate.The control group was fed a basic diet,while Stevia rebaudiana groups 1,2,and 3 were fed with a diet supplemented with 200,400 and 800 mg/kg Stevia rebaudiana extract,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days,and the formal test period was 30 days.The results showed that compared with the control group,the final weight,total weight gain,average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain in Stevia rebaudiana groups 2 and 3 were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the feed to gain ratio was extremely decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the serum total antioxidant capacity of the Stevia rebaudiana groups 2 and 3 of mutton sheep was significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the superoxide dismutase activity in the Stevia rebaudiana groups 1,2,and 3 was extremely increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the content of malondialdehyde in the muscle in the Stevia rebaudiana groups 1,2,and 3 was extremely reduced(P＜0.01),and the activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly increased in Stevia rebaudiana group 2(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the pre-slaughter weight and carcass weight of Stevia rebaudiana groups 2 and 3 were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the slaughter rate and eye muscle area of Stevia rebaudiana groups 2 and 3 of were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the drip loss and brightness(L*)value were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),and the water holding capacity and pH value were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the redness(a*)value of Stevia rebaudiana group 2 was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The study indicates that Stevia rebaudiana extract can improve the growth performance and meat quality,enhance the body's antioxidant capacity of mutton sheep,and the appropriate dosage is 400 mg/kg.