Calcium Requirement of Yunnan Semi-fine Wool Rams (Ovis aries) Based on Growth Performance, Calcium Utilization, and Selected Serum Biochemical Indexes
by
,
Xiaojun Ni
1,2,
Xiaoqi Zhao
1,2,
Baiji Danzeng
1,2,
Yinjiang Li
1,
Allai Larbi
3,
Hongyuan Yang
1,2,
Yuanchong Zhao
4,
Zhengrong You
5,
Bai Xue
6,* and
Guobo Quan
1,2,* 1
Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming 650224, China
2
Yunnan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Animal Genetic Resource Conservation and Germplasm Enhancement, Kunming 650224, China
3
Laboratory of Sustainable Agriculture Management, Higher School of Technology Sidi Bennour, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida 24000, Morocco
4
Qiaojia Agriculture and Rural Bureau, Qiaojia 654699, China
5
Zhaotong Agriculture and Rural Bureau, Zhaotong 657099, China
6
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2024, 14(11), 1681; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111681
Submission received: 23 April 2024
/
Revised: 31 May 2024
/
Accepted: 3 June 2024
/
Published: 5 June 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrient Utilization, Requirements and Nutrigenomics in Sheep and Goats)
Simple Summary
Yunnan Semi-fine wool sheep is a recently developed breed of sheep in China for meat and wool production. However, the nutrient requirements of this breed are scarcely studied, especially regarding minerals. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary calcium levels on the growth performance, calcium utilization, and serum biochemical indexes of Yunnan semi-fine wool rams as well as to estimate their calcium requirement. Diets with calcium levels ranging from 0.73% to 0.89% can improve the growth performance and calcium utilization efficiency of rams, which could serve as baseline when formulating diets for Yunnan semi-fine wool rams.
Abstract
Calcium (Ca) is required for the growth and development of sheep, but the requirement of Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSW) rams remains uncovered. The current study aims to estimate the Ca requirement of growing YSW rams based on their growth performance, Ca utilization, and serum biochemical indexes. Forty-five YSW rams (10-month-olds) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with varying Ca levels of 0.50% (D1), 0.68% (D2), 0.73% (D3), 0.89% (D4), and 0.98% (D5). A higher value for average daily gain and a lower value for the feed conversion ratio were observed in the D3 group compared to the D5 group (p < 0.05). The dry matter intake amount changed quadratically with the increased Ca levels (p < 0.05). The levels of Ca intake, fecal Ca, and excreted Ca were significantly higher in the D5 group than those in the D1 group (p < 0.05). The apparent Ca digestibility rate and the Ca retention rate were significantly higher in the D4 group than in the D1 group (p < 0.05). The serum Ca concentration increased linearly with the incremental levels of dietary Ca (p < 0.05). The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the D1 group than in the D2 group (p < 0.05). The serum levels of hydroxyproline, osteocalcin, and calcitonin decreased from the D1 group to the D2 group, and then significantly ascended (p < 0.05) with the dietary Ca levels from the D3 group to the D5 group. The serum parathyroid hormone content was elevated from the D1 group to the D3 group and then decreased from the D4 group to the D5 group. After calculation, the daily net Ca requirement for the maintenance of YSW rams was 0.073 g/kg of BW0.75, and the daily total Ca requirement was 0.676 g/kg of BW0.75. To optimize the growth performance and the Ca utilization of YSW rams, the recommended dietary Ca level ranges from 0.73% to 0.89% based on this study.
