Abstract: [Objective] To assess the effects of adding Caragana korshinskii in pelleted diet on growth performance, blood biochemical indicators, ruminal fermentation and mutton quality of Tan sheep. [Method] A total of 20 healthy castrated Tan sheep with similar weights were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups with 10 individuals for each group. The control group was fed with pelleted diet containing 10% chrysanthemum meal, and the experimental group was fed with pelleted diet containing 6% Caragana korshinskii and 4% chrysanthemum meal instead. A 50-day fattening experiment was conducted, and the growth performance indicators of the Tan sheep were determined; after the fattening experiment, the blood biochemical indexes were measured; the slaughter performance indicators were evaluated, and the ruminal fluid samples were collected after slaughter to assess the ruminal fermentation indicators; the contents of crude fat, crude protein and amino acids as well as the contents and composition of fatty acids in longissimus dorsi muscle were determined. [Result] No significant （P>0.05） differences in initial weights and final weights in the fattening experiment between the experimental group and the control group were observed; while the average daily gain of the experimental group was reduced by 10.84% compared with the control group, no significant difference was found （P>0.05）; the average daily feed intake of the control group was significantly （P<0.05） higher than that of the experimental group; the two groups had the same feed to gain ratio. The experimental group had significantly （P<0.05） higher serum total protein concentration compared with the control group, and there were no significant （P>0.05） differences in the other tested blood biochemical indexes. The slaughter rate of the control group was 1.59% higher than that of the experimental group, but no significant （P>0.05） difference was observed; there were no significant （P>0.05） differences in liver weights, liver indexes, heart and lung weights and heart and lung indexes between the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group had significantly （P<0.05） higher butyric acid concentration and significantly （P<0.05） lower isovaleric acid concentration in ruminal fluid compared with the control group. A total of 18 and 20 kinds of fatty acids were determined in longissimus dorsi muscle of the control group and the experimental group, respectively. The contents of crude protein, crude fat and total amino acids of the control group and the experimental group were 17.51% and 20.92%, 3.22% and 3.89%, and 13.25% and 14.09%, respectively. [Conclusion] Addition of Caragana korshinskii in pelleted diet has no obvious impacts on most of the indicators associated with growth performance, blood biochemistry and slaughter performance of Tan sheep, but improves the ruminal fermentation and enriches the fatty acids composition and concentrations as well as increases the contents of crude protein, crude fat and total amino acids in mutton.

Key words: Tan sheep, Caragana korshinskii, growth performance, blood biochemical indicators, ruminal fermentation