A sheep feed, its preparation method, and a method for improving sheep production performance.

Abstract

This invention discloses a sheep feed, its preparation method, and a method for improving sheep production performance, relating to the field of animal husbandry technology. Feeding sheep with the sheep feed provided by this invention can significantly improve their production performance. Specifically, the rumen-protected additive has minimal impact on rumen fermentation and is easily digested, absorbed, and utilized by the rumen's post-digestive system. It also increases the energy concentration of the feed, meeting the energy needs of ruminants. Palm oil fat powder can effectively improve body fat distribution, enhance animal slaughter and reproductive performance, and alleviate heat stress. Rumen-protected glucose can rapidly increase blood glucose concentration, reduce ketone body levels, alleviate negative energy balance, improve animal production performance, and improve milk and meat quality. Furthermore, the feed provided by this invention is free of antibiotics and hormones, improves mutton quality, increases economic benefits, and is safe and harmless.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of animal husbandry technology, and more specifically, to a sheep feed, a preparation method, and a method for improving sheep production performance. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of my country's social economy and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the demand for healthy and high-quality mutton products has increased significantly. In actual production, the requirements for livestock product quality are becoming increasingly stringent. Intramuscular fat has a positive impact on meat quality and fat deposition, and is closely related to individual growth, development, and slaughter performance. An intramuscular fat content of 4-5% is sufficient to achieve ideal marbling. However, the deposition sequence and characteristics of fat in mutton sheep have an adverse effect on the presentation of marbling. Scholars have been trying to increase feed energy levels or use novel feed additives to promote intramuscular fat deposition and improve livestock product quality, which has become a new hot topic in ruminant nutrition research. Therefore, developing new fattening feeds for sheep is of great significance for developing sheep farming and providing people with safe mutton products.

[0003] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide sheep feed, a preparation method, and a method for improving sheep production performance to solve the aforementioned technical problems. The feed provided by this invention is free of antibiotics and hormones, can improve the production performance of ruminants, enhance mutton quality, increase economic benefits, and is safe and harmless.

[0005] This invention is implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a sheep feed comprising 98%-99% by weight of complete pelleted feed and 1-3% by weight of rumen-protected additives, wherein the complete pelleted feed comprises the following raw materials by weight percentage:

[0007] The composition includes 23.41% alfalfa hay, 10.03% corn stalks, 33.28% corn, 10.32% soybean meal, 5.99% cottonseed meal, 5.33% dried distillers' grains and their solubles (DDGS), 6.66% wheat bran, 2% molasses, 1% calcium carbonate, 1% sodium bicarbonate, and 1% premix. The rumen-protected additive is selected from at least one of rumen-protected glucose and palm oil fat powder.

[0008] Through extensive screening and meticulous scientific formulation, the inventors discovered that feeding sheep with the above-mentioned feed composition can significantly improve the production performance of ruminants. Specifically, the rumen-protected additive has minimal impact on rumen fermentation and is easily digested, absorbed, and utilized by the rumen's post-digestive system. The rumen-protected additive can increase the energy concentration of the feed, meeting the energy needs of ruminants. Among these, palm oil fat powder effectively improves body fat distribution, enhances animal slaughter and reproductive performance, and alleviates heat stress. Rumen-protected glucose rapidly increases blood glucose levels, reduces ketone body levels, alleviates negative energy balance, improves animal production performance, and enhances milk and meat quality.

[0009] Specifically, by adjusting the nutrient composition of the diet, the proliferation and differentiation of intramuscular fat (IMF) cells can be regulated, increasing the accumulation of glycosidic droplets in IMF cells and promoting IMF deposition, thereby improving animal fattening performance and carcass quality. Feeding sheep with the feed provided by this invention also improved their growth performance and the quality of their mutton.

[0010] Palm oil fat powder has minimal impact on rumen fermentation and is easily digested, absorbed, and utilized by the rumen digestive system. Oils are an important source of energy for animals, offering advantages such as high energy value and low caloric stress. Studies have found that palm oil fat powder has a high concentration, almost 100% energy value, good palatability, and excellent rumen passage, effectively improving body fat distribution, enhancing animal slaughter and reproductive performance, and alleviating heat stress.

[0011] Rumen-protected glucose is a product of glucose coated with coating agents such as palm oil fat powder. It adopts rumen protection technology to avoid glucose degradation in the rumen. The rumen-protection rate is over 90%. After entering the small intestine, it can be completely released and directly absorbed by the small intestinal epithelium, rapidly increasing blood glucose concentration, reducing ketone body levels, alleviating negative energy balance, improving animal production performance, and improving milk and meat quality.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rumen-protected additive is 1-3% rumen-protected glucose. For example, 1% rumen-protected glucose; or 2% rumen-protected glucose; or 3% rumen-protected glucose.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rumen-protected additive comprises 1-2% rumen-protected glucose and 1-2% palm oil fat powder. For example, the rumen-protected additive comprises 1% rumen-protected glucose and 2% palm oil fat powder.

[0014] The inventors have discovered that rumen-protected additives comprising rumen-protected glucose and palm oil fat powder are more effective than single rumen-protected additives in improving sheep production performance, growth performance, and / or mutton quality. The odor of rumen-protected additives can influence animal intake preferences; using the rumen-protected additives provided by this invention can increase animal intake.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the premix is ​​selected from at least one of vitamins and trace elements;

[0016] In one alternative embodiment, the vitamin is selected from at least one of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and niacin.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trace element is selected from at least one of copper, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, magnesium and cobalt.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each kilogram of premix comprises 35,000-80,000 IU of vitamin A, 50,000-320,000 IU of vitamin D, 550,000-1,500 IU of vitamin E, 1,000-3,000 mg of iron, 3,000-4,000 mg of zinc, 80-500 mg of copper, 120-250 mg of manganese, 10-18 mg of selenium, 30-160 mg of cobalt, and 15-23 mg of iodine.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the soybean meal is soybean meal with an effective ingredient content of 43%; the calcium carbonate is feed-grade light calcium carbonate.

[0020] Secondly, the present invention also provides a method for preparing sheep feed, which includes the following steps:

[0021] Mix corn stalks and alfalfa hay in a certain proportion to obtain mixture A; mix soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, wheat bran, DDGS, baking soda, calcium carbonate and premix in a certain proportion to obtain mixture B;

[0022] Mixture A, mixture B, molasses and water to obtain mixture C; granulate, and then mix the rumen-protected additive with mixture C.

[0023] In other embodiments, the pelleting process includes cooling and screening. Unqualified materials are screened out and returned for re-granulation. If the mixture C and the rumen-protected additives are mixed together first, it cannot be compressed into pellets, affecting the sheep's feed intake.

[0024] Thirdly, the present invention also provides a method for improving sheep production performance, growth performance and / or mutton quality by feeding the above-mentioned sheep feed, or by weighing complete pelleted feed and rumen-protected additives separately and then feeding them together.

[0025] The inventors discovered that feeding sheep with the aforementioned feed, or combining complete pelleted feed with rumen-protected additives, can significantly improve sheep production performance, growth performance, and / or mutton quality, thus possessing good economic value. Since the particle size of the complete pelleted feed differs from that of the rumen-protected additives, for accurate formulation, the complete pelleted feed and rumen-protected additives can be weighed separately before feeding, and then the weighed mixture can be fed to the sheep.

[0026] In one alternative embodiment, sheep production performance, growth performance, or mutton quality is selected from at least one of intramuscular fat content, meat color, water-holding capacity, muscle cooked meat percentage, and eye muscle area.

[0027] Growth performance includes, but is not limited to, body length, body height, chest circumference, body weight, live weight before slaughter, dressing percentage, or net meat percentage.

[0028] In one alternative implementation, the sheep is a meat sheep aged ≥8 months.

[0029] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0030] Through extensive screening and meticulous scientific formulation, this invention has found that feeding sheep with the above-mentioned feed composition can significantly improve their production performance. Specifically, the rumen-protected additive has minimal impact on rumen fermentation and is easily digested, absorbed, and utilized by the rumen's post-digestive system. The rumen-protected additive can increase the energy concentration of the feed, meeting the energy needs of ruminants. Among these, palm oil fat powder effectively improves body fat distribution, enhances animal slaughter and reproductive performance, and alleviates heat stress. Rumen-protected glucose rapidly increases blood glucose levels, reduces ketone body levels, alleviates negative energy balance, improves animal production performance, and enhances milk and meat quality.

[0031] By adjusting the nutrient composition of the diet, the proliferation and differentiation of intramuscular fat (IMF) cells can be regulated, increasing the accumulation of glycosidic droplets in IMF cells and promoting IMF deposition, thereby improving animal fattening performance and carcass quality. Feeding sheep with the feed provided by this invention also improved their growth performance and the quality of their mutton.

[0032] The feed provided by this invention is free of antibiotics and hormones, can improve the quality of mutton, increase economic benefits, and is safe and harmless. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Where specific conditions are not specified in the embodiments, conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer shall apply. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all conventional products that can be purchased commercially.

[0034] The features and performance of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

[0035] Example 1

[0036] This embodiment provides a feeding diet (i.e., feed) for increasing intramuscular fat content in sheep, comprising, by weight percentage, 99% complete pelleted feed and 1% rumen-protected additives. The complete pelleted feed comprises, by weight percentage, the following ingredients:

[0037] Alfalfa hay (mature) 23.41%, corn stalks 10.03%, corn 33.28%, 43% soybean meal 10.32%, cottonseed meal 5.99%, DDGS 5.33%, wheat bran 6.66%, molasses 2%, calcium carbonate (feed grade light) 1%, sodium bicarbonate 1%, and ewe premix 1%.

[0038] The premixed feed for ewes contains vitamins A, D, and E, as well as copper, iron, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, and cobalt. Specifically, each kilogram of the premixed feed contains 80,000 IU of vitamin A, 320,000 IU of vitamin D, 5,500 IU of vitamin E, 1,000 mg of iron, 300 mg of phosphorus, 3,000 mg of zinc, 500 mg of copper, 200 mg of manganese, 10 mg of selenium, 160 mg of cobalt, and 15 mg of iodine.

[0039] The rumen-protected additive is 1% rumen-protected glucose (added to the concentrate feed).

[0040] The method for preparing a feed diet that increases intramuscular fat content in sheep provided in this embodiment is as follows:

[0041] (1) Crush corn stalks and alfalfa hay, and mix them in proportion to obtain mixed feed A;

[0042] (2) Mix soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, wheat bran, cottonseed meal, DDGS, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate and premix in proportion to obtain mixture B;

[0043] (3) After mixing mixture A and mixture B, add molasses and a small amount of water in proportion, stir and mix well to obtain mixture C;

[0044] (4) Pelletize, cool, and screen the mixture C to obtain complete pelleted feed. Unqualified materials are screened out and returned for pelleting again.

[0045] (5) Add 1% rumen-treated glucose to the pelleted feed.

[0046] This embodiment provides a feeding method to increase the intramuscular fat content of sheep, and the sheep are fed with the feeding diet provided in this embodiment to increase the intramuscular fat content of sheep.

[0047] Example 2

[0048] This embodiment provides a feeding diet (i.e., feed) for increasing intramuscular fat content in sheep, comprising, by weight percentage, 98% complete pelleted feed and 2% rumen-protected additives. The complete pelleted feed comprises, by weight percentage, the following ingredients:

[0049] Alfalfa hay (mature) 23.41%, corn stalks 10.03%, corn 33.28%, 43% soybean meal 10.32%, cottonseed meal 5.99%, DDGS 5.33%, wheat bran 6.66%, molasses 2%, calcium carbonate (feed grade light) 1%, sodium bicarbonate 1%, and ewe premix 1%.

[0050] The premixed feed for ewes contains vitamins A, D, and E, as well as copper, iron, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, and cobalt. Specifically, each kilogram of the premixed feed contains 80,000 IU of vitamin A, 320,000 IU of vitamin D, 5,500 IU of vitamin E, 1,000 mg of iron, 300 mg of phosphorus, 3,000 mg of zinc, 500 mg of copper, 200 mg of manganese, 10 mg of selenium, 160 mg of cobalt, and 15 mg of iodine.

[0051] The rumen-protecting additive is 2% palm oil fat powder (added to the concentrate).

[0052] The method for preparing a feed diet that increases intramuscular fat content in sheep provided in this embodiment is as follows:

[0053] (1) Crush corn stalks and alfalfa hay, and mix them in proportion to obtain mixed feed A;

[0054] (2) Mix soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, wheat bran, cottonseed meal, DDGS, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate and premix in proportion to obtain mixture B;

[0055] (3) After mixing mixture A and mixture B, add molasses and a small amount of water in proportion, stir and mix well to obtain mixture C;

[0056] (4) Pelletize, cool, and screen the mixture C to obtain complete pelleted feed. Unqualified materials are screened out and returned for pelleting again.

[0057] (5) Add 2% palm oil fat powder to the pelleted feed and mix it with the pelleted feed.

[0058] This embodiment provides a feeding method to increase the intramuscular fat content of sheep, and the sheep are fed with the feeding diet provided in this embodiment to increase the intramuscular fat content of sheep.

[0059] Example 3

[0060] This embodiment provides a feeding diet (i.e., feed) for increasing intramuscular fat content in sheep, comprising, by weight percentage, 97% complete pelleted feed and 3% rumen-protected additives. The complete pelleted feed comprises, by weight percentage, the following ingredients:

[0061] Alfalfa hay (mature) 23.41%, corn stalks 10.03%, corn 33.28%, 43% soybean meal 10.32%, cottonseed meal 5.99%, DDGS 5.33%, wheat bran 6.66%, molasses 2%, calcium carbonate (feed grade light) 1%, sodium bicarbonate 1%, and ewe premix 1%.

[0062] The rumen-protecting additive consists of 2% palm oil fat powder and 1% rumen glucose (added on the basis of concentrate).

[0063] The premix contains vitamins A, D, and E, as well as copper, iron, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, and cobalt. Specifically, each kilogram of premix contains 80,000 IU of vitamin A, 320,000 IU of vitamin D, 5,500 IU of vitamin E, 1,000 mg of iron, 300 mg of phosphorus, 3,000 mg of zinc, 500 mg of copper, 200 mg of manganese, 10 mg of selenium, 160 mg of cobalt, and 15 mg of iodine.

[0064] The method for preparing a feed diet that increases intramuscular fat content in sheep provided in this embodiment is as follows:

[0065] (1) Crush corn stalks and alfalfa hay, and mix them in proportion to obtain mixed feed A;

[0066] (2) Mix soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, wheat bran, cottonseed meal, DDGS, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate and premix in proportion to obtain mixture B;

[0067] (3) After mixing mixture A and mixture B, add molasses and a small amount of water in proportion, stir and mix well to obtain mixture C;

[0068] (4) Pelletize, cool, and screen the mixture C to obtain complete pelleted feed for sheep. Unqualified materials are screened out and returned for pelleting again.

[0069] (5) On this basis, add 1% rumen-treated glucose and 2% palm oil fat powder and mix with pellet feed for feeding.

[0070] This embodiment provides a feeding method to increase the intramuscular fat content of sheep, and the sheep are fed with the feeding diet provided in this embodiment to increase the intramuscular fat content of sheep.

[0071] Experimental Example 1

[0072] (1) Experimental site: Gaolan Ecological and Agricultural Comprehensive Research Station, Gaolan County, Gansu Province.

[0073] (2) Experimental Design: Twenty-four healthy Dumonte ewes, approximately 8 months old, with an average initial weight of 65.93 kg ± 3.68 kg, were randomly divided into four treatment groups, with six ewes in each group: a control group, a rumen-protected glucose group (I), a palm oil fat powder group (II), and a rumen-protected glucose + palm oil fat powder group (III). The control group was fed a diet consisting of conventional alfalfa hay and corn stalks as roughage, with the same concentrate composition as described in the examples (see Table 1). Groups I, II, and III were fed the same feed and feeding methods as described in Examples 1, 2, and 3 of this invention, respectively, with identical feeding and management practices. Daily feed intake was recorded for each group, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) for each experiment was calculated. Meat quality analysis was performed after 100 days of feeding, with the longissimus dorsi muscle being selected for relevant index testing.

[0074] Table 1. Composition of the experimental diet

[0075]

[0076]

[0077] (3) Test Results

[0078] CON refers to the control group, RPG refers to Example 1, RPF refers to Example 2, and RPG+RPF refers to Example 3.

[0079] As shown in Table 2, there were no significant differences in growth and slaughter performance indicators between the diets of Examples 1, 2, and 3 and the control group. The feed intake and daily feed intake of Examples 1, 2, and 3 were lower than those of the control group, but the differences were not significant, indicating that the addition of rumen-protected glucose and palm oil fat powder had a low impact on the feed intake of sheep and good palatability.

[0080] Table 2. Effects of the control diet and the diets prepared in Examples 1, 2, and 3 on the growth and slaughter performance of Dumonte mutton sheep.

[0081]

[0082] Table 3. Effects of the control group diet and the diets prepared in Examples 1, 2, and 3 on the quality of Dumonsa mutton.

[0083]

[0084]

[0085] Intramuscular fat is a key factor affecting meat quality and is positively correlated with sensory indicators such as tenderness, marbling, and flavor. In this experiment, crude fat was used to reflect intramuscular fat content. Compared with the control group, the feeding methods in Examples 1 and 3 significantly increased the fat content in the muscle (by 37.93% and 17.65%, respectively), while the feeding method in Example 2 had no significant effect.

[0086] Meat color is one of the important indicators for evaluating the appearance of meat. It can also be used as an important indicator for judging the functional characteristics of meat and the quality of processed meat products. At the same time, it is also an outward manifestation of the physiological, biochemical, and microbiological changes in muscle. In Examples 1, 2, and 3, there were no significant differences from the control group in muscle pH value, meat color brightness (L*), and redness (a*).

[0087] Water-holding capacity is an important indicator for evaluating meat quality. It refers to the meat's ability to retain its original moisture when subjected to external forces, directly affecting characteristics such as juiciness, color, and shear strength. Meat tenderness is generally influenced by the degree to which internal biochemical changes alter the properties of various components, making it one of the most important sensory indicators of meat. This experiment uses water loss rate, cooked meat percentage, and shear strength to measure the water-holding capacity and tenderness of meat. Higher muscle moisture content leads to greater water loss, resulting in poorer meat quality, increased meat yield loss, and reduced economic value. Simultaneously, cell shrinkage due to water loss worsens muscle color. A higher cooked meat percentage indicates greater tenderness and better water retention and overall quality.

[0088] As shown in Table 3 above, compared with the control group, the cooked meat percentage of the feeds prepared in Examples 1, 2, and 3 increased by 1.41%, 1.41%, and 8.18%, respectively; and the water loss rate decreased by 13.36%, 9.32%, and 22.20%, respectively. In Example 3, the eye muscle area increased by 7.53% compared with the control group. In Examples 1, 2, and 3, the backfat thickness decreased by 30.40%, 44.80%, and 8.00%, respectively, compared with the control group. Therefore, rumen-treated glucose and palm oil fat powder have good palatability and, without affecting the growth and slaughter performance of sheep, increase the fat content, water-holding capacity, and tenderness of mutton, thereby improving the quality of mutton.

[0089] Compared to existing animal feeding methods, the diets and feeding methods in Examples 1, 2, and 3 effectively reduce backfat thickness and muscle water loss in mutton sheep, and increase eye muscle area. In particular, the diets and feeding methods in Examples 1 and 3 can effectively increase the fat content in the muscles of ruminants.

[0090] In summary, the feeding diets and feeding methods in Examples 1-3 of this invention effectively reduce the backfat thickness and muscle water loss rate of meat sheep, increase the eye muscle area, improve the cooked meat yield, and effectively increase the fat content in the muscles of ruminants, which is beneficial to the actual production activities of meat sheep and improves economic benefits.

[0091] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sheep feed, characterised in that, It comprises 98-99% of full-value granular feed and 1-3% of auxiliary rumen bypass additive, the full-value granular feed comprises raw materials in the following weight percentage: Alfalfa hay 23.41%, corn stalk 10.03%, corn 33.28%, soybean meal 10.32%, cottonseed meal 5.99%, dry distillers' grains and solubles (DDGS) 5.33%, wheat bran 6.66%, molasses 2%, calcium carbonate 1%, baking soda 1%, premix 1%; the auxiliary rumen bypass additive is 1-2% of rumen bypass glucose and 1-2% of palm oil fat powder.

2. The sheep feed according to claim 1, characterized in that, The premix is selected from at least one of vitamins and trace elements.

3. The sheep feed according to claim 2, characterised in that, The vitamin is selected from at least one of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and nicotinic acid.

4. The sheep feed according to claim 3, characterised in that, The trace element is selected from at least one of copper element, phosphorus element, iron element, manganese element, zinc element, iodine element, selenium element, magnesium element and cobalt element.

5. The sheep feed according to claim 1, wherein The soybean meal is soybean meal with 43% of effective component; the calcium carbonate is feed-grade light calcium carbonate.

6. A method of preparing sheep feed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that, It comprises the following steps: Mix corn stalk and alfalfa hay in proportion to obtain mixture A; mix soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, wheat bran, DDGS, baking soda, calcium carbonate and premix in proportion to obtain mixture B; Mix mixture A, mixture B, molasses and water uniformly to obtain mixture C; granulate; Mix auxiliary rumen bypass additive with mixture C.

7. A method of improving production performance, growth performance and / or lamb quality in sheep, characterised by, Feed the sheep feed of any one of claims 1-5, or separately weigh 98-99% of full-value granular feed and 1-3% of auxiliary rumen bypass additive in the sheep feed of any one of claims 1-5 and then feed them together.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The sheep production performance, growth performance and / or sheep meat quality are selected from at least one of intramuscular fat content, meat color, water holding capacity, muscle cooked meat rate and eye muscle area.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, The sheep is ≥8-month-old mutton sheep.

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