Effects of compound Chinese herbal medicine extract on growth performance,oxidative stress,serum biochemical,and immune indices of weaned lambs

REN Chunzhi; ZHANG Linji; DONG Shuhong; PENG Yue; CHEN Xinyu; SUI Shaopu

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2026.02.003

Abstract：This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of compound Chinese herbal medicine extract on the growth performance,oxidative stress,serum biochemical,and immune indices of weaned lambs.A total of 72 healthy two-month-old weaned lambs with similar body weight were randomly divided into four groups,with three replicates per group and six lambs per replicate.Control group was fed a basal diet,while experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.1%(group 0.1%),0.2%(group 0.2%)and 0.3%(group 0.3%)of the compound Chinese herbal medicine extract,respectively.The pre-test period was 10 days,and the formal test period was 50 days.The results showed that compared with the control group,the final weight and average daily gain(ADG)were significantly increased in groups 0.2%and 0.3%(P<0.05),while the feed-to-gain ratio(F/G)was significantly decreased in group 0.3%(P<0.05).The diarrhea rate was significantly lower in experimental groups(P<0.05).Serum total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity were significantly increased in experimental groups(P<0.05).Serum glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and catalase(CAT)activities were significantly increased in groups 0.2%and 0.3%(P<0.05),and serum malondialdehyde(MDA)content was significantly decreased in group 0.3%(P<0.05).Serum albumin(ALB)content was significantly increased in the experimental groups(P<0.05),while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)content was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Serum urea nitrogen(BUN),total cholesterol(TC),and triglyceride(TG)concentrations were significantly decreased in groups 0.2%and 0.3%(P<0.05),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)content was significantly increased(P<0.05).Serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST)activity was significantly increased in the group 0.3%(P<0.05).Serum immunoglobulin G(IgG)and interferon-γ(IFN-γ)concentrations were significantly increased in experimental groups(P<0.05).Serum immunoglobulin A(IgA)and immunoglobulin M(IgM)concentrations were significantly increased in groups 0.2%and 0.3%(P<0.05),while interleukin-6(IL-6)content was significantly decreased(P<0.05).The study shows that the compound Chinese herbal medicine extract can improve the growth performance,enhance antioxidant capacity,optimize serum biochemical indices,and strengthen the immune function of weaned lambs,with a 0.2%addition level demonstrating optimal effect.