Method for improving production performance of sheep by feeding glycyrrhetinic acid

Abstract

The invention provides a method for improving the production performance of sheep by feeding glycyrrhetinic acid. The method comprises the step of feeding the sheep with feed containing glycyrrhetinic acid. Experimental results show that after the pregnant ewes are fed with the feed containing glycyrrhetinic acid, the weight, the wool length, the wool bending number and other production performances of the lambs are all improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of animal breeding. Specifically, the present application provides a method for improving the production performance of sheep by feeding glycyrrhetinic acid. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of social economy, animal husbandry has received extensive attention as a growth point of my country's national economy. An important constraint on the development of animal husbandry and breeding industry in my country is the lack of high-quality forage feed. Insufficient forage supply and low feed utilization rate have led to high feeding costs for some livestock species that rely on roughage (such as cattle and sheep). Therefore, it is crucial to explore high-quality forage feed. Ningxia, my country, belongs to an arid desert grassland area, producing licorice, bitter beans, astragalus, various Chinese herbal forage, etc. Glycyrrhizic acid is one of the main active ingredients in licorice. It is a pentacyclic triterpene derivative obtained by hydrolysis of glycyrrhizic acid; it is easy to obtain and low in cost. It is reported to have pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immunomodulatory, but its application in animal production has not been fully explored. Summary of the invention

[0003] After long-term research, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a method for adding glycyrrhetinic acid to the daily diet of sheep to improve the production performance of sheep.

[0004] On the one hand, the present application provides a method for feeding glycyrrhetinic acid to improve the production performance of sheep, the method comprising feeding the sheep with a feed containing glycyrrhetinic acid.

[0005] Furthermore, the feed contains 0.03-1% glycyrrhetinic acid based on the total weight of the diet.

[0006] Furthermore, the feed contains 0.07% glycyrrhetinic acid based on the total weight of the diet.

[0007] Furthermore, in the method, the sheep are fed 2-3 times a day, preferably 2 times.

[0008] Furthermore, the sheep is a pregnant ewe.

[0009] Furthermore, in the method, the feed containing glycyrrhizic acid is fed to ewes at 20-40 days of pregnancy until the end of pregnancy.

[0010] Furthermore, in the method, the feed containing glycyrrhizic acid is fed to the ewes at day 30 of pregnancy until the end of pregnancy.

[0011] Furthermore, the feed also includes one or more ingredients selected from corn, corn stalks, silage corn, alfalfa, straw, hay, salt, and premixes.

[0012] Furthermore, the improving the production performance of sheep is to increase the body weight of lambs born by pregnant ewes.

[0013] Furthermore, the method of improving the production performance of sheep is to increase the hair length of lambs born by pregnant ewes.

[0014] Furthermore, the method for improving the production performance of sheep is to increase the number of hair curvatures of lambs born by pregnant ewes.

[0015] In addition to the above ingredients, various natural and processed feeds known to be useful for sheep feeding may be used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is a statistical chart of the weight of lambs born by ewes in different groups in the licorice feeding experiment.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a statistical chart of the hair length of lambs born by ewes in different groups in the licorice feeding experiment.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a statistical chart of the hair curvature number of lambs born by ewes in different groups in the licorice feeding experiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Example 1 Experimental plan

[0020] The sheep breed selected in the embodiment is Tan sheep, and the experimental site is Ningxia Tan sheep breeding farm.

[0021] The glycyrrhetinic acid used was glycyrrhetinic acid with a content of 98% (purchased from Gansu Panzhi Biotechnology Co., Ltd.)

[0022] Test sheep: Adult ewes born between 2019 and 2022 were subjected to synchronized estrus and artificial breeding, and finally 240 ewes with a gestation period of 30 days were selected for the experiment.

[0023] Management method: Sheep were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, ensuring that the number of individuals in each group was 120, completely housed and kept in the same experimental environment. Each group of sheep was managed by a dedicated person, with regular feeding and cleaning. Each group of sheep was fed twice a day, the first time at 7:00 am and the second time at 5:00 pm, with free drinking water. Management personnel and herdsmen should observe and record the feeding and mental state of the sheep. The pre-trial period was 10 days, and the formal feeding lasted until the end of pregnancy.

[0024] Test feed: The diets of the test group and the control group consisted of corn, corn stalks, alfalfa, corn silage, rice straw, green hay, salt and premix. The test group added 2.33% glycyrrhetinic acid to the premix, and the glycyrrhetinic acid content accounted for 0.07% of the total diet after calculation; the premix of the control group did not contain glycyrrhetinic acid. Except for the difference in glycyrrhetinic acid in the premix, the other raw materials and proportions of the two groups were exactly the same. The specific feed proportions are shown in Table 1:

[0025] Table 1 Basic diet formula for experimental ewes

[0026]

[0027]

[0028] Note: * Experimental group: The premix contained 2.33% glycyrrhetinic acid, and the glycyrrhetinic acid content accounted for 0.07% of the total diet after calculation; Control group: The premix did not contain glycyrrhetinic acid.

[0029] Data collection: Randomly select 15-day-old lambs from the experimental group and the control group to measure important production traits, including weight, hair length and hair curvature. The main measuring tools include a 100 kg small scale and a 15 cm stainless steel ruler for students. Hair length and hair curvature are measured from the wool on the lamb's shoulder.

[0030] Data Analysis: T-test was used to conduct statistical analysis on the collected data.

[0031] Example 2 Experimental results

[0032] The test results are as follows:

[0033] 1. Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on the body weight of 15-day-old lambs after feeding pregnant ewes (Table 2, Figure 1 ): The average weight of 15-day-old lambs in the experimental group was 9.13±1.37 kg (n=15), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (8.20±1.50 kg (n=30) (P<0.05). The weight of lambs in the experimental group increased by 11.3% compared with that in the control group.

[0034] 2. Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on hair length of 15-day-old lambs after feeding pregnant ewes (Table 2, Figure 2 ): The average wool length of 15-day-old lambs in the experimental group was 7.00±0.57kg (n=15), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (6.38±0.56kg (n=30) (P<0.05). The wool length of lambs in the experimental group increased by 9.7% compared with that in the control group.

[0035] 3. Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on the hair curvature of 15-day-old lambs after feeding pregnant ewes (Table 2, Figure 3 ): The average wool curvature of 15-day-old lambs in the experimental group was 6.40±1.40kg (n=15), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (5.70±0.63kg (n=30). The wool curvature of lambs in the experimental group increased by 12.3% compared with that in the control group.

[0036] In summary, adding 0.07% glycyrrhizic acid to the diet of pregnant ewes can significantly increase the body weight, hair length and hair curvature of the lambs they produce.

[0037] Table 2 Statistics of production performance indicators of 15-day-old lambs

[0038]

[0039] Note: Data in the same row with the same letters or no letters indicate no significant difference (P>0.05), and different letters indicate significant difference (P<0.05).

Claims

1. A method for improving sheep production performance by feeding glycyrrhetinic acid, characterized in that: The method comprises feeding sheep with a feed containing glycyrrhetinic acid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feed contains 0.03-1% glycyrrhetinic acid based on the total weight of the diet.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the feed contains 0.07% glycyrrhetinic acid based on the total weight of the diet.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheep is a pregnant ewe.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the feed containing glycyrrhetinic acid is fed to ewes at 20-40 days of pregnancy until the end of pregnancy.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the feed containing glycyrrhizic acid is fed to ewes at day 30 of pregnancy until the end of pregnancy.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the feed further comprises one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of corn, corn stalks, silage corn, alfalfa, straw, hay, salt, and premixes.

8. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the improving the production performance of sheep is to increase the body weight of lambs born by pregnant ewes.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the improving the production performance of sheep is to increase the hair length of lambs born by pregnant ewes.

10. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the improving the production performance of sheep is to increase the number of hair curvatures of lambs born by pregnant ewes.

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