scholarly journals Effect of Age and Weaning on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Parameters in Lambs Fed Starter with Limited Ewe–Lamb Interaction

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiqin Wang ◽  
Tao Ma ◽  
Guohong Zhao ◽  
Naifeng Zhang ◽  
Yan Tu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Early Weaning ◽  
Serum Parameters ◽  
Ruminal Ph ◽  
Inflammatory Parameters ◽  
Rumen Ph ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Ewe Lamb ◽  
Stomach Weight

Sixty neonatal Hu lambs were weaned at either 21 (n = 30) (early weaning, EW) or 49 days (n = 30) of age (control, CON). The starter intake and body weight (BW) of lambs was recorded weekly from birth to 63 days of age. Diarrhea rate of lambs was measured from birth to 35 days. Six randomly selected lambs from each treatment were slaughtered at 26, 35, and 63 days of age, respectively. Ruminal pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, as well as serum parameters including immunity, antioxidant status, and inflammatory parameters from randomly selected lambs from each treatment were measured. There was no difference in BW at birth and day 21 between the two groups of lambs (p > 0.05). However, BW of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) from 28 to 49 days of age. Average daily gain (ADG) of the lambs in the EW group was significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.01) at three weeks after early weaning. Starter intake of the lambs in the EW group was obviously higher than that in the CON group (p < 0.01) from day 28 to 49. In addition, the diarrhea rate was significantly higher than that in the CON group from day 5 to 14 after weaning (p < 0.01). The EW group had heavier carcasses (p < 0.01) and rumen relative to whole stomach weights (p < 0.01). Rumen pH was increased by age (p < 0.01) and was not affected by early weaning (p > 0.05). Early weaning decreased abomasum relative to whole stomach weight (p < 0.01) and increased total VFA concentrations (p < 0.01) at day 26. There was no difference in lambs’ immunity and stress indicators (p > 0.05). The results indicated that lambs weaned at 21 days of age had decreased ADG and higher diarrhea rate, although the overall immunity was not compromised. Long-term study is needed to further validate the feasibility of early weaning strategy in lambs.

scholarly journals Influences of starter NDF level on growth performance and rumen development in lambs fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Biao Xie ◽  
WenQin Huang ◽  
ChunXiang Zhang ◽  
QiYu Diao ◽  
Kai Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Muscle Layer ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Rumen Epithelium ◽  
Rumen Ph ◽  
Structural Carbohydrate ◽  
Main Component ◽  
Stomach Weight ◽  
Keratin Layer

Abstract Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), as the main component of structural carbohydrate in forage, is a vital factor impacting the performance of young ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of starter NDF level on the rumen fermentation and morphometrics of lambs fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. One hundred Hu sheep lambs (18 days of age and 6.1 ± 0.1 kg body weight [BW]) were randomly assigned to one of the four starter diets differing in their NDF levels on a dry matter (DM) basis: 1) diet with 14% NDF (NDF14), 2) diet with 18% NDF (NDF18), 3) diet with 22% NDF (NDF22), and 4) diet with 26% NDF (NDF26). Lambs were fed milk replacer with designed starters from 21 to 60 d of age and then transitioned to the same starter feed until 90 d of age. Six lambs from each treatment (close to the average BW of the corresponding treatment) were selected and slaughtered at 90 d of age for measuring rumen fermentation, anatomical development, and morphometric characteristics. Lambs receiving NDF22 and NDF26 starter diets had greater (P &lt; 0.05) intake of starter and total DM, and average daily gain during the overall period, thereby heavier (P &lt; 0.05) final weights at 90 d of age compared with those fed NDF14 starter diet. At 90 d of age, lambs fed NDF22 and NDF26 starters had higher rumen pH, followed by lower propionate, higher acetate concentrations (P &lt; 0.05), and a higher acetate-to-propionate ratio compared with those fed NDF14 and NDF18 starters (P &lt; 0.05). No significant differences of the full and empty weight of reticulorumen were observed among treatments; however, the reticulorumen weight expressed as a percentage of the complex stomach weight was lower (P &lt; 0.05) in lambs fed NDF22 and NDF26 starters compared with those fed NDF14 starter. Furthermore, NDF14 lambs had the thickest keratin layer and epithelium compared with those in the other treatments but showed the thinnest muscle layer (P &lt; 0.05). These results suggest that increasing starter NDF levels can ameliorate the rumen fermentation environment and alleviate hyperkeratosis and plaque formation in the rumen epithelium. In summary, including 22% and 26% NDF in the pelleted starter can improve the performance of lambs.

scholarly journals Impacts of Prepubertal Rearing Intensity and Calf Health on First-Lactation Yield and Lifetime Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-214
Author(s):  
Nina Volkmann ◽  
Nicole Kemper ◽  
Anke Römer
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Duration Of Treatment ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Lifetime Performance ◽  
Daily Gain

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to investigate possible long-term effects of calf and heifer feeding intensity on first-lactation milk yield and lifetime efficiency (milk per day of life). Detailed records from a total number of 2,252 female German Holstein calves from one commercial farm were obtained from birth to culling. Data regarding all information about calf’s birth, rearing time until first insemination, first calving, first-lactation yield and lifetime performance were collected over a 12-year period. This large data volume was merged, handled, checked for plausibility, classified and evaluated. Analyses revealed that body weight at an age of six months was significantly influenced by the average daily gain in the first two weeks of life (P<0.0001) and by the duration of treatment for respiratory diseases (P=0.0080). Moreover, first-lactation yield was affected by average daily gain in the whole first year of life (P=0.0013) and particularly in the period of month nine to twelve (P=0.00187). Lifetime efficiency was significantly influenced by body weight at first insemination (P=0.0051), average milk yield (P<0.0001) and reason for culling (P<0.0001). The results of this long-term study confirm that growth is important in general, but as shown by the negative correlation between average daily gain from month nine to twelve and the first lactation milk yield, nutrient intake (energy and protein) should be adapted to enable a controlled growth especially at certain periods of life. After six months of age, daily gain has to be controlled to avoid fat accumulation for a healthy and effective start of lactation. In addition, this analysis revealed that after passing first lactation, particularly health and fertility are the keys for a long efficient lifetime of dairy cows.

Quinapril for Sclerosis Failed in Long-Term Study

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
DAMIAN MCNAMARA
Keyword(s):  
Term Study ◽  
Long Term Study

Theoretical and Methodological Problems of a 10-Year Follow-Up Program Evaluation Study

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt A. Heller ◽  
Ralph Reimann
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Partial Inclusion ◽  
Methodological Problems

Summary In this paper, conceptual and methodological problems of school program evaluation are discussed. The data were collected in conjunction with a 10 year cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation with partial inclusion of control groups. The experiences and conclusions resulting from this long-term study are revealing not only from the vantage point of the scientific evaluation of new scholastic models, but are also valuable for program evaluation studies in general, particularly in the field of gifted education.

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