Effects of Energy Intake on Nutrient Digestibility, Nitrogen Metabolism, Energy Utilization, Serum Biochemical Indices, and Rumen Microbiota in Lanzhou Fat-Tailed Sheep

Wangmei Feng, Juanshan Zheng, Na Jiao, Chi Ma, Honghe Li, Junsong Zhang, Jutian Yang, Hongwei Xu, Yong Cai, Dandan Gao, Xin Cao, Xiaofang Feng and Penghui Guo ()
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Wangmei Feng: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Juanshan Zheng: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Na Jiao: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Chi Ma: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Honghe Li: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Junsong Zhang: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Jutian Yang: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Hongwei Xu: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Yong Cai: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Dandan Gao: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Xin Cao: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Xiaofang Feng: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
Penghui Guo: School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: This study sought to investigate the impact of different levels of dietary maintenance energy metabolism on nutrient digestibility, rumen microbiota composition, and serum biochemical parameters in Lanzhou fat-tailed sheep rams. A total of twenty rams, each aged eight months and with an initial mean body weight of 27.81 ± 3.38 kg, were selected and randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups. These groups were administered with different levels of metabolizable energy (MEM): low energy (LE), intermediate energy (IE), high energy (HE), and extra high energy (EHE), corresponding to 6.77, 7.22, 7.72, and 8.20 MJ/d, respectively. The results showed a linear increase ( p < 0.001) in average daily gain (ADG), dry matter (DM) intake, apparent DM digestibility, and crude protein (CP) digestibility. Conversely, the intake of nitrogen (NI), fecal nitrogen (FN), and manure nitrogen (MN) exhibited a significant linear decrease ( p < 0.001). The N utilization efficiency rations of FN/NI and MN/NI linearly decreased ( p < 0.001), while RN/NI linearly increased ( p < 0.001). Additionally, the intake of gross energy (GE), methane energy (CH4-E), digestible energy (DE), and metabolizable energy (ME) exhibited a linear increase, whereas the ration of FE/GE intake linearly decreased ( p < 0.001). The efficiency of energy utilization expressed as a proportion of GE intake (DE/GE intake, ME/GE intake, ME/DE intake, and CH4-E/GE intake) showed linear alterations ( p < 0.05) with the increase in the dietary energy supplementation level. The dietary energy level did not exert a significant impact on serum biochemical indices ( p > 0.05). At the phylum level, the average abundances of Verrucomicrobiota were significantly reduced in the EHE group compared to the IE group, while the average abundances of Desulfobacterota were significantly lower in the EHE group relative to the LE group. At the genus level, the average abundances of Succiniclasticum were significantly higher in the HE and EHE groups compared to the LE group. In conclusion, the energy level (8.20 MJ/d) significantly enhanced nutrient digestibility, energy, and nitrogen metabolism, and it significantly increased the relative abundances of Succiniclasticum .

Keywords: Lanzhou fat-tailed sheep rams; dietary energy level; nutrient digestibility; serum biochemistry; rumen microbiota (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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