Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2017, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (3): 34-34.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2017.03.010

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Evaluation of Palatability of Lepidium latifolium and Its Effect on Weight Gain of Beef Cattle

QI De-sheng1, SUN Shi-hao1, ZHAO Yuan2, DU Yu-rong1, MA Jian-bin1 ( 1 .Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, China ; 2. Qinghai Blood Center,Xining 810000, China)   

  • Online:2017-03-20 Published:2017-03-20

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the palatability of Lepidium latifolium and its effect on weight gain of beef cattle and to provide scientific basis for the development and utilization of new feed resources. A total of eighteen 8-to 10-month-old healthy beef cattle were randomly assigned to one of three groups such that control group(n=6) fed on a diet consisting of basil diet(20%),corn stalk(40%) and wheat straw(40%); experimental groupⅠ(n=6) fed on a diet consisting of basil diet(20%),corn stalk(40%) and Lepidium latifolium(40%); experimental groupⅡ(n=6) fed on a diet consisting of basil diet(20%),wheat straw(40%) and Lepidium latifolium(40%). The feeding experiment lasted for 30 days. The body condition of the beef cattle in each group was observed and evaluated; the average daily feed intake(observation period lasted for 15 days),grazing speed(observation period lasted for 10 days),weight gain,and daily weight gain of each group were calculated and statistically compared. The results showed that the average daily feed intake of the two experimental groups was gradually increased with extension of experimental period,and was significantly higher than that of control group on the 15^ thday of observation period(P〈0.05); in the initial of the experiment,the grazing speed of the two experimental groups was significantly or very significantly lower than that of control group(P〈0.05 or P〈0.01); after a short adaptation period,the grazing speed of the two experimental groups was generally increased,and there were no significant differences in grazing speed between the two experimental groups and the control group(P〉0.05); at the end of the 30-day feeding experiment,the body condition of each group was good,and the physical sign and coat color of the beef cattle in experimental group Ⅰ was better; the weight gain of experimental group Ⅰ was very significantly higher than that of control group(P〈0.01) and significantly higher than that of experimental groupⅡ(P〈0.05); compared to control group and experimental groupⅡ,the daily weight gain of experimental groupⅠwas increased by 23.33% and 12.12%,respectively; compared to control group,the daily weight gain of experimental group Ⅱwas increased by 10.00%. The combined data showed that Lepidium latifolium has good palatability and is able to significantly improve the weight gain of beef cattle,indicating that it may serve as a new feed resource for confined livestock.

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