Effects of Sigou No.2 silage on growth performance,nutrient apparent digestibility,and rumen fermentation function of mutton sheep

WANG Nian; HE Wei; ZHU Songbo

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.20.006

Abstract：This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of Sigou No.2 silage on the growth performance,nutrient apparent digestibility,and rumen fermentation parameters of mutton sheep.A total of 80 healthy hybrid Hu sheep aged three months with similar body weights were selected and randomly divided into four groups,with four replicates per group and five sheep per replicate.The control group was fed a basal diet,while the experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 10％(10％group),20％(20％group),and 40％(40％group)of Sigou No.2 silage,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days,and the formal test period was 60 days.The results showed that the final weight and average daily gain of 20％group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05),while the feed to gain ratio was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The apparent digestibility of crude fat,crude protein,and acid detergent fiber in 20％group were significantly higher than those of the control group(P＜0.05),and the neutral detergent fiber apparent digestibility in all supplemented groups was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The ruminal papilla width of 20％and 40％groups was significantly greater than that of the control group(P＜0.05),and the ruminal papilla length of 20％group was also significantly greater than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The acetic acid content in the rumen fluid of all supplemented groups was significantly reduced(P＜0.05),the acetic acid to propionic acid ratio value of 20％and 40％groups was significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.05),and the total volatile fatty acid content showed a decreasing trend.The study shows that appropriate supplementation of Sigou No.2 silage in the diet can improve the growth performance,increase the nutrien apparent digestibility,promote rumen development,and optimize the fermentation function of mutton sheep,with a suggested supplementation ratio of 20％.