A feed additive for improving perinatal ewe health level and application thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of ewe feeding, in particular to a feed additive for improving the health level of perinatal ewe and application thereof, the feed additive comprises the following raw materials by weight: Chinese medicine composition 50-150 parts, vitamin C 2-5 parts; the Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials by weight: Huangqi 20-30 parts, bran-fried Baizhu 15-25 parts, Dangshen 15-25 parts, Dangui 8-15, Zhi Gancao 6-15 parts, Chenpi 3-8 parts, Shengma 5-10 parts, Duzhong 1-3 parts, Baishao 1-5 parts, Jinyinhua 1-3 parts. Adding the feed additive in the feed of perinatal ewe, combined with the phased feeding method, can effectively improve the immunity of perinatal ewe and lamb, ensure the smooth delivery of ewe, rapid recovery of postpartum condition and healthy weaning of lamb, avoid the problems of high antibacterial drug residue, low mutton quality and the like caused by large use of antibacterial drugs during perinatal period of ewe, and also improve the economic benefit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ewe feeding technology, specifically to a feed additive for improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period and its application. Background Technology

[0002] The peripartum period for sheep, typically referring to the 30 days before and after calving, is a crucial stage in the ewe's reproductive cycle and even its entire lifespan. During this period, the ewe's body needs to allocate most of its nutrition and defense capabilities to prepare for delivery. Significant changes occur in its rumen function, metabolic processes, and immune function, leading to a significant decrease in the ewe's resistance and consequently, various diseases such as mastitis and metabolic disorders. In actual sheep farming, to prevent disease occurrence and development, ensure successful delivery, rapid postpartum recovery, and healthy weaning of lambs, farms (households) use large amounts of antibiotics at different stages of ewe rearing. However, the overuse of antibiotics has multiple drawbacks, including causing strong toxic side effects, leading to excessive levels of harmful residues in animal products, and accelerating the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. These problems not only affect the profitability of ewe farming, but the resulting drug-resistant bacteria and drug residues can also enter the human body through the food chain, posing a potential threat to consumer health. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a feed additive and its application to improve the health of periparturient ewes, enhance the immunity of periparturient ewes and lambs, reduce the risk of medication, and improve breeding efficiency.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a feed additive to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period, the feed additive comprising the following raw materials in parts by weight: 50-150 parts of a traditional Chinese medicine composition and 2-5 parts of vitamin C; In one optional embodiment, the traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: Astragalus membranaceus 20-30 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 15-25 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 15-25 parts, Angelica sinensis 8-15 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6-15 parts, Citrus reticulata 3-8 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 5-10 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1-3 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 1-5 parts, and Lonicera japonica 1-3 parts.

[0005] In one optional embodiment, the feed additive comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 100 parts of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 4 parts of vitamin C; In one optional embodiment, the traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 20 parts Astragalus membranaceus, 15 parts stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, 15 parts Codonopsis pilosula, 8 parts Angelica sinensis, 8 parts prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 4 parts Citrus reticulata peel, 6 parts Cimicifuga foetida, 1 part Eucommia ulmoides, 2 parts Paeonia lactiflora, and 1 part Lonicera japonica.

[0006] Among them, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala and roasted licorice fully utilize the unique natural plant aroma of traditional Chinese medicine to improve feed palatability, increase ewes' preference for feed and animal welfare, while improving periparturient ewes' production performance, immunity, anti-inflammatory ability and antioxidant capacity, and effectively reducing dependence on antibacterial drugs.

[0007] Secondly, the present invention provides a method for preparing the feed additive for improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period, comprising the following steps: mixing the raw materials in the specified weight proportions.

[0008] In some embodiments, the mixed raw materials are pulverized to 80-220 mesh.

[0009] Thirdly, the present invention provides a concentrated feed, the raw materials of which include the feed additives described in the first aspect or the feed additives prepared by the preparation method described in the second aspect.

[0010] In one optional embodiment, the feed additive accounts for 0.54wt% to 1.54wt% of the total concentrate feed; the remainder is concentrate supplement.

[0011] In one optional embodiment, the concentrate supplement comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: Corn 55-56 parts, soybean meal 18-20 parts, standard flour 8-11 parts, cottonseed meal 5-7 parts, DDGS 3.45-4.5 parts, premixed feed 4-6 parts; It should be noted that the corn, soybean meal, standard flour, cottonseed meal, DDGS, and premixed feed in the concentrate supplement of this invention are all conventional commercially available products.

[0012] Fourthly, the present invention provides a feeding method for improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period, by feeding ewes the above-mentioned concentrated feed.

[0013] In one optional implementation, the feeding method includes: (1) Feed the ewes 0.5~0.85kg / day / head of the aforementioned concentrate feed from 30 days to 4 days before delivery; (2) Feed the ewe 0.3~0.6kg / day / head of the concentrated feed on the 3rd day before delivery and the 2nd day after delivery; (3) From two days before delivery to the first day after delivery, the ewe should be fed only with high-quality hay and allowed to graze freely. (4) From the 3rd to the 30th day after the ewe gives birth, feed each single lamb ewe 0.6~0.9 kg / day / head of the concentrated feed. For each additional lamb, increase the amount of the concentrated feed by 0.2~0.3 kg / day / head.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the high-quality green hay is selected from at least one of alfalfa hay and oat hay.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises optimizing the feeding environment and management parameters, wherein each test sheep has a movement space of 1.2~1.5 m 2 to ensure sufficient activity of the ewes to maintain physiological functions; a TMR total mixed ration feeding system is adopted, feeding is carried out at 08:00 and 16:00 at fixed time twice a day, and free drinking water is provided at the same time, so as to ensure the stability and balance of nutrient supply.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the method further comprises establishing a full-process fine management mechanism, with specially-assigned persons in charge of feeding, regularly completing the disinfection of pens, epidemic prevention and health care of sheep, and improving the feed conversion rate through dynamic and precise feeding regulation.

[0017] In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides an application of the feed additive according to the first aspect, the feed additive prepared by the preparation method according to the second aspect, the concentrate feed according to the third aspect or the feeding method according to the fourth aspect in feeding perinatal ewes.

[0018] The technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages: 1. The feed additive for improving the health level of perinatal ewes provided by the present invention comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 50~150 parts of a traditional Chinese medicine composition, 2~5 parts of vitamin C; the traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following crude drugs in parts by weight: 20~30 parts of astragalus root, 15~25 parts of bran-fried atractylodes macrocephala, 15~25 parts of codonopsis pilosula, 8~15 parts of angelica sinensis, 6~15 parts of prepared liquorice root, 3~8 parts of tangerine peel, 5~10 parts of cimicifuga foetida, 1~3 parts of eucommia ulmoides, 1~5 parts of paeonia lactiflora, and 1~3 parts of honeysuckle. The functions of each component are as follows: Vitamin C has the following functions: first, it can enhance the improvement effect of astragalus root and codonopsis pilosula on immune function, reduce the risk of postpartum infection, and reduce the incidence of diseases such as mastitis; second, it can neutralize free radicals and reduce the oxidative stress and damage caused by parturition and environmental changes; third, it can promote collagen synthesis to improve reproductive performance, accelerate wound healing, repair of bones and blood vessels, promote iron absorption to prevent anemia, ensure the healthy development of fetuses, and increase the survival rate of weaned lambs.

[0019] In the traditional Chinese medicine composition, prepared liquorice root: raw liquorice root is sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and has the effect of clearing away heat and toxic materials, while the prepared liquorice root made by honey-processing has milder medicinal properties, which enhances the effects of tonifying spleen and stomach, and replenishing qi to restore pulse, and its unique sweet aroma can effectively improve the feed palatability. The processed Chinese herbal medicines can increase the dissolution rate of active ingredients by 15%-25%, which is more conducive to the digestion and absorption of perinatal ewes.

[0020] Fried Atractylodes macrocephala: Raw Atractylodes macrocephala is bitter and warm in nature, possessing the effects of strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi, drying dampness and promoting diuresis. However, its medicinal properties are somewhat drying, and long-term use can easily damage yin and deplete qi. Furthermore, its volatile oil components may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, affecting the feed intake of ewes. Fried Atractylodes macrocephala, after being processed with wheat bran, has a milder medicinal effect, reduced drying properties, decreased gastrointestinal irritation, and enhanced spleen-strengthening and stomach-soothing effects. During the frying process, the volatile oil content of Atractylodes macrocephala decreases, while the dissolution rate of polysaccharides and other beneficial components increases by 10%-20%, making it more easily absorbed and utilized by ewes during the peripartum period. In addition, the roasted aroma imparted by frying significantly improves feed palatability and promotes feed intake.

[0021] Eucommia ulmoides: Its main effects include tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening muscles and bones, and calming the fetus, while also improving circulation, providing antioxidant effects, and regulating immunity. It offers multiple health benefits to ewes during the peripartum period: First, it calms and protects the fetus, reducing the risk of miscarriage. Eucommia ulmoides' "fetal-calming" effect can alleviate fetal restlessness caused by stress or malnutrition during the peripartum period. Second, it enhances bone health and postpartum recovery. Eucommia ulmoides contains lignans and flavonoids, which can promote osteoblast activity and inhibit bone loss. Ewes are prone to osteoporosis or limb weakness due to a surge in calcium demand during the peripartum period, making them susceptible to prenatal and postpartum paralysis. Adding Eucommia ulmoides can address these issues, improving the ewe's standing ability and postpartum recovery. Third, it improves nutrient utilization and production performance, and increases feed conversion rate. Eucommia ulmoides leaves can significantly increase sheep's feed intake, daily weight gain, and nitrogen utilization, while reducing energy loss. Fourth, it promotes lamb health: Eucommia ulmoides indirectly affects lambs through the mother, and in experiments, it can reduce the rate of diarrhea in lambs and enhance their immunity. Fifth, it has anti-fatigue and metabolic regulation effects: Eucommia ulmoides can alleviate the physiological fatigue of ewes during the peripartum period (such as increased burden on the liver and kidneys), and its antioxidant components can reduce oxidative stress damage and maintain stable blood pressure and circulation.

[0022] Honeysuckle: Its main effects include clearing heat and detoxifying, and preventing infection (preventing peripartum mastitis and endometritis). It offers multiple health benefits to ewes during the peripartum period: its core components, chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid, effectively inhibit pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, significantly reducing the risk of mastitis; simultaneously, it can activate lymphocytes and macrophages through polysaccharide components, enhancing the ewe's immunity. In terms of antiviral activity, it has a direct inhibitory effect on influenza viruses and can alleviate peripartum fever symptoms; its active ingredient, flavonoids, reduces oxidative damage caused by parturition stress by increasing SOD and GSH-Px activity and reducing MDA content. Honeysuckle can also bidirectionally regulate intestinal function, improve damp-heat type diarrhea, and promote nutrient absorption. Furthermore, it can be passed on to lambs through ewe milk, achieving disease prevention.

[0023] White peony root has the effects of nourishing blood and regulating menstruation, soothing the liver and relieving pain, alleviating stress-induced abdominal pain and endocrine disorders. It has multi-target health regulation effects in ewes during the peripartum period: its core component, paeoniflorin, can significantly inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, alleviate peripartum pain and inflammatory responses, and, in conjunction with benzoic acid and other components, can inhibit pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, reducing the risk of infection; its antioxidant effect, by increasing SOD activity and scavenging free radicals, can effectively reduce oxidative stress, damage to the liver and blood vessels of ewes, and lower serum transaminase levels to promote hepatocyte regeneration; its bidirectional smooth muscle regulation properties can improve gastrointestinal spasms or diarrhea, while its blood-nourishing and menstruation-regulating functions can optimize postpartum uterine recovery and reproductive function restoration; paeoniflorin can also enhance the immunity of ewes by regulating T / B lymphocyte function. When combined with astragalus, it can replenish qi and blood, reduce peripartum pain and stress in ewes, and indirectly assist in maintaining pregnancy.

[0024] Astragalus and Angelica sinensis, among other tonic herbs that replenish qi and blood, can synergistically exert multi-system regulatory effects in ewes during the peripartum period: Angelica sinensis can replenish and invigorate blood, while Astragalus can replenish qi and raise yang. Their core components, Astragalus polysaccharides and Angelica sinensis polysaccharides, significantly improve the blood circulation of ewes by activating hematopoietic function (enhancing erythrocyte production), thus accelerating postpartum recovery. At the same time, flavonoid components can promote gastrointestinal motility and improve the absorption rate of crude protein and minerals. In terms of immune regulation, Astragalus saponins can increase serum IgG levels, and Angelica sinensis ferulic acid enhances immunity by regulating T lymphocyte subsets. The two work synergistically to reduce the risk of postpartum infection and alleviate parturition stress by inhibiting cortisol release. In addition, their active ingredients can promote the development of intestinal villi in lambs through milk transfer, resulting in a significant increase in weaning weight.

[0025] Codonopsis pilosula can strengthen ewes' constitution by replenishing qi and blood during the peripartum period, reducing pre- and postpartum weakness. Its active ingredients, Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides and saponins, can bidirectionally regulate immune function, reducing the risk of infection in ewes and enhancing lamb immunity through milk transmission. The polysaccharides promote the development of intestinal villi in lambs, while the saponins improve gastrointestinal function, increase the absorption rate of crude protein and minerals, and enhance innate immunity by stimulating interleukin secretion. Codonopsis pilosula is sweet and neutral in nature, with mild medicinal properties and no drug resistance, making it a safe alternative to some antibiotics. It also has multiple effects, including relieving stress, stabilizing endocrine function, promoting uterine involution, and shortening estrus intervals, significantly improving reproductive efficiency.

[0026] The synergistic effect of dried tangerine peel (which regulates qi and strengthens the spleen) and cimicifuga (which raises yang and lifts prolapse) on ewes during the peripartum period can regulate the qi mechanism of the spleen and stomach, alleviating problems such as loss of appetite and abdominal distension caused by spleen and stomach weakness in late pregnancy. Dried tangerine peel dries dampness and resolves phlegm, preventing postpartum dampness stagnation; cimicifuga, with its light and ascending properties, can boost the middle qi and prevent uterine prolapse. The combination of the two addresses both the ascending and descending of qi, promoting postpartum recovery. Dried tangerine peel contains volatile oils (limonene, etc.) and flavonoids (hesperidin), which can promote gastrointestinal motility and have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; cimicifuga contains triterpenoid saponins (citric acid) and phenolic acids, which have anti-fatigue and immunomodulatory effects, and the ferulic acid it contains can also improve microcirculation. The synergistic effect of the two enhances the ewes' stress resistance, optimizes nutrient absorption, and ensures peripartum health.

[0027] In this traditional Chinese medicine composition, Astragalus membranaceus is the principal herb, which tonifies the middle energizer and replenishes qi (improves symptoms such as poor appetite and qi deficiency), raises yang and lifts prolapse (lifts yang qi to relieve symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, rectal prolapse, and uterine prolapse caused by qi deficiency and sinking), and consolidates the exterior and stops sweating. Vitamin C, Codonopsis pilosula, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, and honeysuckle are the assistant herbs; Angelica sinensis, tangerine peel, Cimicifuga foetida, Paeonia lactiflora, and Eucommia ulmoides are the adjuvant herbs; and prepared licorice root is the guiding herb, which harmonizes the other herbs and replenishes the middle energizer and boosts qi.

[0028] The additive composition has a synergistic effect, with the principal, assistant, adjuvant, and guide herbs working together. The whole formula takes "tonifying qi" as the core and "raising yang" as the focus, while also taking into account the effects of "nourishing blood, regulating qi, drying dampness, anti-stress, and anti-inflammation". This design is precisely targeted at the physiological characteristics of peripartum ewes, which are prone to postpartum paralysis, mastitis, and other diseases. Through multi-target regulation, it achieves a synergistic effect and is scientifically and effectively used for targeted health care of peripartum ewes, improving the immunity of peripartum ewes and lambs, avoiding the risks of antibiotic use, and improving breeding efficiency.

[0029] 2. This invention provides a feeding method to improve the health of peripartum ewes by feeding them a concentrated feed containing feed additives. This feeding method is formulated based on the physiological characteristics of ewes at different stages of the peripartum period and employs a synergistic formula technology of traditional Chinese medicine and concentrated feed supplementation. Specifically, a concentrated feed restriction window is set from the second day before farrowing to the first day after farrowing, providing only high-quality hay; on the third day before farrowing and the second day after farrowing, partial concentrated feed feeding is resumed, with the amount of traditional Chinese medicine health feed gradually decreasing and increasing in a gradient. A precise feeding model is established to dynamically adjust the amount of concentrated feed supplementation according to the number of suckling lambs. This feeding method has the following advantages: First, it formulates a phased nutritional regulation strategy based on the physiological characteristics of ewes at different stages of the peripartum period, specifically reducing the incidence of peripartum nutritional metabolic diseases and mastitis, thus reducing disease risk and dependence on antibiotics from the source; second, it optimizes the feeding environment and management parameters, with each experimental sheep receiving 1.2~1.5m... 2The system provides ample activity space for ewes to maintain physiological functions; a TMR (Total Mixed Ration) feeding system is used, with feeding twice daily at 08:00 and 16:00, along with free access to water, ensuring stable and balanced nutrient supply; finally, a comprehensive and meticulous management mechanism is established, with dedicated personnel responsible for feeding, regular disinfection of the pens, and regular disease prevention and health care for the sheep. Dynamic and precise feeding adjustments improve feed conversion rates; simultaneously, the use of antibiotics is avoided, improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period and increasing lamb survival rates, thereby reducing breeding costs. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following embodiments are provided to better understand the present invention and are not limited to the preferred embodiments described. They do not constitute a limitation on the content and scope of protection of the present invention. Any product that is the same as or similar to the present invention, derived by any person under the guidance of the present invention or by combining the features of the present invention with other prior art, falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0031] For experiments not specifically described in the examples, the procedures or conditions should be followed according to the conventional experimental procedures described in the literature in this field. Reagents or instruments whose manufacturers are not specified are all commercially available conventional reagent products.

[0032] Corn, soybean meal, standard flour, cottonseed meal, and DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) were all purchased from Inner Mongolia Fuchuan Feed Technology Co., Ltd.; the premixed feed was a compound premixed feed for lactating ewes (5% SG540) purchased from Beijing Precision Animal Nutrition Research Center Co., Ltd., whose main components include vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, biotin, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide, cobalt chloride, limestone powder, dicalcium phosphate, sodium chloride, sweetener, ethoxyquinoline, rice husk powder (carrier), etc.; vitamin C was purchased from Bayannur Kangteer Veterinary Medicine Co., Ltd.; and the traditional Chinese medicines were all purchased from Bayannur Baokang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

[0033] Example 1-1 This embodiment provides a feed additive to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period, comprising: 0.5 kg of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.04 kg of vitamin C; The formula of the above-mentioned Chinese herbal medicine composition is as follows: Astragalus membranaceus 20 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 15 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 15 parts, Angelica sinensis 8 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 8 parts, Citrus reticulata 4 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 6 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1 part, Paeonia lactiflora 2 parts, Lonicera japonica 1 part; The preparation method of the above feed additive includes the following steps: Take 0.5 kg of the traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.04 kg of vitamin C according to the above formula, mix them, and pulverize them to 200 mesh for later use.

[0034] Examples 1-2 This embodiment provides a feed additive to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period, comprising: 1.0 kg of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.04 kg of vitamin C; The formula of the above-mentioned Chinese herbal medicine composition is as follows: Astragalus membranaceus 20 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 15 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 15 parts, Angelica sinensis 8 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 8 parts, Citrus reticulata 4 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 6 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1 part, Paeonia lactiflora 2 parts, Lonicera japonica 1 part; The preparation method of the above feed additive includes the following steps: Take 1.0 kg of the traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.04 kg of vitamin C according to the above formula, mix them, and pulverize them to 200 mesh for later use.

[0035] Examples 1-3 This embodiment provides a feed additive to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period, comprising: 1.5 kg of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.04 kg of vitamin C; The formula of the above-mentioned Chinese herbal medicine composition is as follows: Astragalus membranaceus 20 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 15 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 15 parts, Angelica sinensis 8 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 8 parts, Citrus reticulata 4 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 6 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1 part, Paeonia lactiflora 2 parts, Lonicera japonica 1 part; The preparation method of the above feed additive includes the following steps: Take 1.5 kg of the traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.04 kg of vitamin C according to the above formula, mix them, and pulverize them to 200 mesh for later use.

[0036] Examples 1-4 This embodiment provides a feed additive to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period, comprising: 1.5 kg of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.02 kg of vitamin C; The formula of the above-mentioned Chinese herbal medicine composition is as follows: Astragalus membranaceus 30 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 20 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 25 parts, Angelica sinensis 15 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6 parts, Citrus reticulata 3 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 10 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1 part, Paeonia lactiflora 5 parts, Lonicera japonica 3 parts. The preparation method of the above feed additive includes the following steps: Take 1.5 kg of the traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.02 kg of vitamin C according to the above formula, mix them, and pulverize them to 80 mesh for later use.

[0037] Examples 1-5 This embodiment provides a feed additive to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period, comprising: 1.5 kg of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.05 kg of vitamin C; The formula of the above-mentioned Chinese herbal medicine composition is as follows: Astragalus membranaceus 30 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 20 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 25 parts, Angelica sinensis 15 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6 parts, Citrus reticulata 3 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 10 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1 part, Paeonia lactiflora 5 parts, Lonicera japonica 3 parts. The preparation method of the above feed additive includes the following steps: Take 1.5 kg of the traditional Chinese medicine composition and 0.05 kg of vitamin C according to the above formula, mix them, and pulverize them to 220 mesh for later use.

[0038] Comparative Example 1-1 This comparative example provides a feed additive with the following formula: Astragalus membranaceus 6 parts, prepared licorice root 4 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 7 parts, Angelica sinensis 5 parts, tangerine peel 3 parts, Bupleurum chinense 6 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala 4 parts, Scutellaria baicalensis 4 parts, Trigonella foenum-graecum 6 parts, Cuscuta chinensis 3 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 5 parts, Ligusticum chuanxiong 3 parts, Poria cocos 6 parts. The preparation method of the above feed additive is as follows: according to the above formula, take 1.54 kg of raw materials, mix them, and pulverize them to 200 mesh for later use.

[0039] Comparative Examples 1-2 This comparative example provides a feed additive whose formula differs from that of Examples 1-3 in that "Vitamin C 0.6 kg" is omitted, and only the traditional Chinese medicine composition is retained. The specific formula is as follows: 20 parts Astragalus membranaceus, 15 parts stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, 15 parts Codonopsis pilosula, 8 parts Angelica sinensis, 8 parts prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 4 parts Citrus reticulata, 6 parts Cimicifuga foetida, 1 part Eucommia ulmoides, 2 parts Paeonia lactiflora, and 1 part Lonicera japonica. The preparation method of the above feed additive is as follows: according to the above formula, take 1.54 kg of raw materials, mix them, and pulverize them to 200 mesh for later use.

[0040] Example 2-1 This embodiment provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 99.46 kg of concentrate supplement and 0.54 kg of feed additive from Example 1-1, and mix them evenly; The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 56 parts by weight of corn, 19 parts by weight of soybean meal, 9.5 parts by weight of standard flour, 6 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 4.5 parts by weight of DDGS, and 5 parts by weight of premix.

[0041] Example 2-2 This embodiment provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 98.96 kg of concentrate supplement and 1.04 kg of feed additives from Examples 1-2, and mix them evenly; The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 56 parts by weight of corn, 19 parts by weight of soybean meal, 9.5 parts by weight of standard flour, 6 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 4.5 parts by weight of DDGS, and 5 parts by weight of premix.

[0042] Example 2-3 This embodiment provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 98.46 kg of concentrate supplement and 1.54 kg of feed additives from Examples 1-3, and mix them evenly; The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 56 parts by weight of corn, 19 parts by weight of soybean meal, 9.5 parts by weight of standard flour, 6 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 4.5 parts by weight of DDGS, and 5 parts by weight of premix.

[0043] Examples 2-4 This embodiment provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 98.48 kg of concentrate supplement and 1.52 kg of feed additives from Examples 1-4, and mix them evenly; The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 55 parts by weight of corn, 18 parts by weight of soybean meal, 11 parts by weight of standard flour, 5 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 3.48 parts by weight of DDGS, and 6 parts by weight of premix.

[0044] Examples 2-5 This embodiment provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 98.45 kg of concentrate supplement and 1.55 kg of feed additives from Examples 1-5, and mix them evenly; The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 56 parts by weight of corn, 20 parts by weight of soybean meal, 8 parts by weight of standard flour, 7 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 3.45 parts by weight of DDGS, and 4 parts by weight of premix.

[0045] Comparative Example 2-1 This comparative example provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 98.46 kg of concentrate supplement and 1.54 kg of feed additive (compare ratio 1-1), and mix them evenly. The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 56 parts by weight of corn, 19 parts by weight of soybean meal, 9.5 parts by weight of standard flour, 6 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 4.5 parts by weight of DDGS, and 5 parts by weight of premix.

[0046] Comparative Example 2-2 This comparative example provides a method for preparing concentrated feed, including the following steps: Take 98.46 kg of concentrate supplement and 1.54 kg of feed additives from comparison ratio 1-2, and mix them evenly; The formula for the above-mentioned concentrate supplement is as follows: 56 parts by weight of corn, 19 parts by weight of soybean meal, 9.5 parts by weight of standard flour, 6 parts by weight of cottonseed meal, 4.5 parts by weight of DDGS, and 5 parts by weight of premix.

[0047] Example 3-1 This embodiment provides a feeding method to improve the health of periparturient ewes. The method involves feeding periparturient ewes with the concentrated feed prepared in Examples 2-1 to 2-3, and includes the following steps: (1) Feed 0.75 kg of concentrated feed per ewe per day from 30 days to 4 days before delivery; (2) Feed each ewe 0.5 kg of concentrated feed per day on the 3rd day before delivery and the 2nd day after delivery; (3) From the second day before delivery to the first day after delivery, ewes should be fed only alfalfa and oats to effectively prevent mastitis; (4) From the 3rd to the 30th day after the ewe gives birth, for single-lamb ewes, in addition to feeding 0.75kg / day / head of concentrate feed, for each additional lamb, the amount of concentrate feed should be increased by 0.25kg / day / head.

[0048] Example 3-2 This embodiment provides a feeding method to improve the health of ewes during the peripartum period. The method involves feeding peripartum ewes with the concentrated feed prepared in Examples 2-4, and includes the following steps: (1) Feed 0.5 kg of concentrated feed per ewe per day from 30 days to 4 days before delivery; (2) Feed 0.3 kg of concentrated feed per ewe on the 3rd day before delivery and the 2nd day after delivery; (3) From the second day before delivery to the first day after delivery, ewes should be fed only alfalfa and oats to effectively prevent mastitis; (4) From the 3rd to the 30th day after the ewe gives birth, for single-lamb ewes, in addition to feeding 0.6kg of concentrate feed per day per ewe, for each additional lamb, the amount of concentrate feed should be increased by 0.2kg per day per ewe.

[0049] Example 3-3 This embodiment provides a feeding method to improve the health of peripartum ewes, using the concentrated feed prepared in Examples 2-5 to feed peripartum ewes, including the following steps: (1) Feed 0.85 kg of concentrated feed per ewe per day from 30 days to 4 days before delivery; (2) Feed 0.6 kg of concentrated feed per ewe on the 3rd day before delivery and the 2nd day after delivery; (3) From the second day before delivery to the first day after delivery, ewes should be fed only alfalfa and oats to effectively prevent mastitis; (4) From the 3rd to the 30th day after the ewe gives birth, for single-lamb ewes, in addition to feeding 0.9kg of concentrate feed per day per ewe, for each additional lamb, the amount of concentrate feed should be increased by 0.3kg per day per ewe.

[0050] Experimental Example 1 1. Laboratory animals The experiment was conducted in Bainaobao Town, Linhe District, Bayannur City. 240 healthy, uniform, late-pregnancy (30 days before delivery) Duhan crossbred ewes were selected. The ewes of this breed are multi-lambing and were randomly divided into groups.

[0051] 2. Experimental Design and Duration The experimental sheep were divided into 8 groups according to their average weight (see Table 2), with 30 sheep in each group. No antibiotics were used in groups 1-8 during the experiment.

[0052] Group 1 was fed only concentrate supplement; Groups 2-6 were fed concentrates from Examples 2-1 to 2-5 respectively; and Groups 7-8 were fed concentrates from Comparative Examples 2-1 to 2-2 respectively.

[0053] The feed formulations for each group are shown in Table 1.

[0054] Table 1 Feed Formulation

[0055] 3. Rearing environment Each sheep occupies 1.2-1.5 square meters of space. 2 Feed twice a day (08:00, 16:00), with free access to water.

[0056] 4. Feeding strategy No antibiotics were used during the trial, which lasted for the entire perinatal period. No feed was given on the day of delivery, i.e., feeding began 30±3 days before delivery and continued 30±3 days after delivery.

[0057] (1) Feeding strategy of experimental group 1 (control group) In Experiment 1, the ewes were fed a concentrate supplement that did not contain feed additives. The amount of concentrate supplement fed was the same as in Example 3-1, specifically: ① Feed 0.75 kg of concentrate feed per ewe per day from 30 days to 4 days before delivery; ② Feed each ewe 0.5 kg of concentrate feed per day on the 3rd day before delivery and the 2nd day after delivery; ③ From the second day before delivery to the first day after delivery, ewes should be fed only alfalfa and oats to effectively prevent mastitis; ④ From the 3rd to the 30th day after giving birth, for single-lambed ewes, in addition to feeding 0.75 kg / day / head of concentrate supplement, for each additional lamb they nurse, the amount of concentrate supplement should be increased by 0.25 kg / day / head. For example, for ewes with twins, the amount of concentrate supplement should be 1 kg / day / head.

[0058] (2) Feeding strategies for groups 2-8 Groups 2-4 followed the feeding strategy described in Example 3-1; Groups 5-6 followed the feeding strategies described in Examples 3-2 and 3-3 respectively; Groups 7 and 8 followed the same feeding strategy as Groups 2-4, following the feeding strategy described in Example 3-1.

[0059] 5. Feeding management and indicator measurement (1) Feeding and management The feeding experiment was conducted by designated personnel who regularly disinfected the pens, carried out disease prevention and health care for the sheep, and provided each experimental sheep with ample space and free access to feed and water. The feeding period was 60 days.

[0060] (2) Measurement of ewe weight and immune and biochemical indicators The weight of the ewes was measured and recorded on days 3, 15, and 30 before delivery and on days 3, 15, and 30 after delivery; blood samples were collected from the ewes to measure immune and biochemical indicators.

[0061] (3) Measurement of ewe milk and daily weight gain of lambs The lambs were weighed and their birth weight was recorded on the day of birth. The lambs in each group were weighed on an empty stomach in the morning on the 15th and 30th day after birth, and their weight was recorded. Milk was collected from ewes to determine its composition; colostrum was collected on the 4th ± 3rd day postpartum; normal milk was collected on the 15th ± 3rd day postpartum.

[0062] (4) Determination of immune, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant indicators in the blood and milk of ewes The methods used to determine each indicator are standard procedures in this field. The procedures were performed according to the kit instructions. All kits were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Research Institute Co., Ltd. The specific detection methods are as follows: The levels of animal immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM were detected using transmission immunoturbidimetry. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) detection: xanthine oxidase method; Malondialdehyde (MDA) detection: TBA colorimetric method (thiobarbituric acid colorimetric method); Total Antioxidant Capacity (T-AOC) determination: Ferrous ion reduction colorimetric method; Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) detection: spectrophotometric colorimetric method; Peroxidase (POD) detection: Ammonium molybdate colorimetric method (visible light method); C-reactive protein (CRP) detection: Transmission immunoturbidimetric assay.

[0063] 6. Experimental Results and Analysis (1) Perinatal reproductive performance of ewes Table 2 shows that there were differences in the weight of ewes in different groups during the peripartum period at different stages: On day 30 before farrowing, the average weight of each group was basically the same, with no significant difference; On day 15 before farrowing, although there was no significant difference in the weight of ewes in each group, compared with the weight on day 30 before farrowing, the weight of group 1 (control group) decreased significantly, the weight of groups 7 and 8 decreased slightly, and the weight of groups 2-6 increased slowly; On day 3 before farrowing, the weight of groups 2-8 was significantly higher than that of group 1 (control group) (P<0.05), with group 4 having the highest weight; From the 3rd to the 30th day postpartum, the body weight of groups 2-6 showed a slow upward trend; while the body weight of groups 1, 7, and 8 showed a "gradual fluctuation" or "slight decline" trend, without showing a significant growth advantage; on the 30th day postpartum, the body weight of ewes in group 4 was significantly higher than that in groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.05), and the body weight of groups 2, 3, 5, and 6 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (control group) (P<0.05), and higher than that in groups 7 and 8; The results of weight changes from 30 days before farrowing to 30 days after farrowing showed that the intervention programs in Group 4 had a sustained and stable advantage in maintaining the body condition of ewes during the peripartum period; Groups 3, 5, and 6 showed the next best recovery effect, which could alleviate the decline in the body condition of ewes after farrowing to some extent; while the weight changes of ewes in Group 1 (control group) before and after farrowing fully demonstrated the negative impact of peripartum nutritional stress on the health of ewes, and feeding only concentrate supplements was insufficient to meet the nutritional needs of ewes.

[0064] In conclusion, the intervention programs in Group 4 of the experiment likely effectively improved the nutritional metabolism and health status of ewes during the peripartum period, providing strong support for ewes to successfully navigate the peripartum period and reduce postpartum complications. Therefore, the rational addition of traditional Chinese medicine formulas and vitamins can help replenish qi and blood, improve the nutritional reserves and energy utilization efficiency of ewes during the peripartum period, and promote rapid postpartum recovery. This has important practical guiding significance for optimizing ewe breeding management and improving the economic benefits of breeding. Meanwhile, the performance of Groups 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the experiment also provides a reference for further optimizing the additive composition formula and exploring more precise feeding programs. Future studies can further verify its long-term effects by expanding the sample size and extending the observation period.

[0065] Table 2. Average weight of ewes at different stages of the peripartum period (unit: kg)

[0066] Note: Different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences (P<0.05); identical or absent lowercase letters in the same column indicate no significant differences (P>0.05); the same applies to the following table.

[0067] (2) Blood immune and anti-stress indicators Table 3 shows that there are differences in the blood immune and stress resistance indicators of ewes during the peripartum period among the different groups, mainly in the following three aspects: First, significant differentiation in immune and antioxidant capacity was observed during the prenatal stage. During the prenatal stage, except for a few indicators in groups 1, 7, and 8, all indicators in groups 2 through 6 showed an upward trend. At day 30 prenatally, there were no significant differences in any indicators among the groups, indicating a consistent initial state. By day 15 prenatally, the SOD and GSH-PX levels in groups 4, 3, and 5 showed the first significant increase, significantly higher than in group 1 (P<0.05). The IgA and T-AOC levels in group 4 were also significantly higher than in groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.05), demonstrating the early activation effect of the additive composition on the immune and antioxidant systems. By day 3 before parturition, the differences between groups reached their pre-partum peak. The IgG content in experimental group 4 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 1 (P<0.01), and the levels of IgA, SOD, T-AOC, and GSH-PX were all the highest among all groups, significantly higher than those in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the MDA content in experimental group 1 was significantly higher than that in all other groups except experimental groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05), and the immune and antioxidant indicators dropped to their lowest pre-partum levels, fully reflecting the negative impact of peripartum nutritional metabolic stress on the immune and antioxidant functions of ewes.

[0068] Second, there were significant differences in immune and antioxidant recovery during the postpartum period. On the third day postpartum, the IgG content in experimental group 4 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 1 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than that in experimental groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05); the IgA, SOD, T-AOC, and GSH-PX content was significantly higher than that in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the MDA content was significantly lower than that in experimental groups 1 and 7 (P<0.05). From day 15 to day 30 postpartum, the overall advantages of group 4 were further consolidated. IgG levels were significantly higher than those of group 1 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than those of groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05). IgA, T-AOC, and SOD levels were significantly or extremely significantly higher than those of all groups except groups 3 and 5 (P<0.05). GSH-PX levels were significantly higher than those of group 1 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than those of groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05). MDA levels remained at the lowest level among all groups, significantly lower than those of groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.05). This indicates that group 4 had a significant advantage in repairing postpartum damage and rebuilding antioxidant homeostasis. At the same time, the indicators of groups 3 and 5 were also significantly better than those of group 1, demonstrating good recovery ability. The immune and antioxidant indicators of groups 7 and 8 remained at low levels at all postpartum stages, and the intervention effect was relatively limited.

[0069] Third, there were significant differences in the maintenance of homeostasis of immune and anti-stress indicators before and after parturition. The parturition process has a significant impact on the homeostasis of immune and anti-stress indicators in ewes. From day 15 before parturition to day 15 after parturition, except for groups 4, 5, and 3, the immune and anti-stress indicators of all other groups showed a downward trend, with the decline showing the following pattern: group 1 > group 7 > group 8 > group 6 > group 2. Group 4 showed extremely strong stability before and after parturition: among immunoglobulins, the IgG content increased significantly, while IgA and IgM remained stable; although the antioxidant index declined slightly, it remained at a high level, demonstrating a strong self-recovery ability. The fluctuation range of indicators in group 5 was smaller than that in groups 2 and 6, and its homeostasis maintenance ability was second only to groups 3 and 4; the homeostasis performance of group 6 was moderate, with a smaller decline than that in groups 7 and 8. In stark contrast, Group 1 showed the largest decrease in immunoglobulins and antioxidant indicators, indicating the most severe homeostasis imbalance under parturition stress. Furthermore, Groups 7 and 8 were less effective than Groups 2-6. Therefore, the intervention measures adopted in Group 4 effectively helped ewes maintain immune and antioxidant homeostasis before and after parturition, and were significantly more effective than those in Groups 7 and 8.

[0070] Overall, intervention with additive compositions significantly improved the immune and antioxidant properties of ewes during the peripartum period, effectively reducing oxidative stress levels. Whether considering changes in indicators at different stages or the ability to maintain homeostasis in response to parturition stress, group 4 showed a clear advantage, followed by groups 3 and 5. This provides important theoretical basis and practical guidance for optimizing ewe breeding management and improving breeding efficiency.

[0071] Table 3. Statistical table of blood immune and stress resistance indicators in ewes during the peripartum period.

[0072] (3) Perinatal reproductive performance of ewes As shown in Table 4, 240 ewes were selected as the research subjects in this experiment, and 493 lambs were born from these 240 ewes. Except for one lamb each in experimental groups 2 and 5 that died due to failure to receive the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccine in time, and one lamb in experimental group 6 that died of suffocation due to failure of the amniotic sac to rupture in time and failure to escape completely, the overall condition of ewes and lambs in experimental groups 2-6 was relatively stable. In experimental group 7, one lamb was stillborn and two were born (died on the 2nd and 3rd day after birth). Two lambs died due to mastitis in the ewes (treatment was ineffective and the mastitis spread from one side to both sides), one died from diarrhea, and one died from high fever due to decreased physical condition after continuous rainfall. In experimental group 8, one lamb was stillborn and one was born (surviving to weaning). Two healthy lambs died before weaning. The overall condition of the lambs was better than that of experimental groups 1 and 7, but not as good as that of experimental groups 2-6. The condition of ewes and lambs in experimental groups 3-4 was the best, with no stillborn or weak lambs or pre-weaning deaths.

[0073] In contrast, the ewes in Experiment 1 experienced abnormalities such as giving birth to weak and dead lambs. Among them, 5 weak lambs were born and eventually died, 2 lambs died (1 of which died due to uterine rupture during parturition), 3 lambs died because the ewes were paralyzed after giving birth and could not be cared for, 3 lambs died because the ewes developed mastitis after giving birth (and were culled after 20 days of ineffective antibiotic treatment, resulting in the inability to produce milk), 2 lambs died from diarrhea, and 1 lamb died from acute illness. By the weaning stage, a total of 16 lambs had died. The live lamb rate in Experiment 1 was 96.72%, the proportion of healthy lambs was 83.61%, and the weaning lamb survival rate was 73.77%. The loss of lambs from the number of live lambs (59) to the number of live lambs at weaning (45) was as high as 23.73%, reflecting the poor health maintenance ability of this group.

[0074] Overall, Group 1 performed the worst in all indicators, with a low proportion of healthy lambs and a low survival rate. Groups 7 and 8 performed the worst, with some dead or weak lambs and lambs dying before weaning. In contrast, Groups 2-6 showed significant advantages, especially Groups 3 and 4, which performed exceptionally well in terms of the proportion of healthy lambs and survival rate (the number of live and healthy lambs produced in both groups was consistent with the total number of lambs produced, the number of live weaned lambs was consistent with the total number of lambs produced, and the survival rate of weaned lambs reached 100%). The survival rate of weaned lambs in Groups 2, 5, and 6 all exceeded 98%. There were a few deaths due to unforeseen factors (failure to administer vaccines in time, asphyxiation during birth), and no weak lambs were produced. It is evident that the feed additive intervention described in this application can effectively reduce the occurrence of weak and dead lambs in ewes, lower the mortality rate of lambs before weaning, and greatly improve the health and survival rate of lambs (groups 3-4 showed the best results, groups 2, 5, and 6 showed the next best results, and groups 7 and 8 showed some improvement but were not as effective as groups 2-6). It demonstrates good comprehensive effects in peripartum ewe farming and provides a better health protection solution for ewe farming.

[0075] Table 4. Lambing status of ewes during the peripartum period and lamb survival rate (unit: lambs)

[0076] (4) Perinatal lamb growth performance Table 5 shows that there were significant differences in the body weight and daily weight gain of lambs in different groups during the peripartum period, mainly in three aspects: First, there were significant differences in the changes in total body weight and daily weight gain throughout the perinatal period: Data from the entire perinatal period showed that lambs in experimental group 4 exhibited the best average body weight and daily weight gain throughout the period. Variance tests revealed that the average body weight and daily weight gain of experimental groups 4, 3, and 5 were significantly or extremely significantly higher than those of experimental groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and superior to experimental groups 2 and 6. Experimental group 1 had the lowest values ​​for both indicators across the entire flock, highlighting its growth disadvantage. This indicates that the intervention measures adopted in experimental group 4 significantly promoted the growth and development of lambs during the perinatal period, improved overall growth performance, and were more effective than those in experimental groups 7 and 8.

[0077] Second, the differences in body weight and daily weight gain gradually widened over time: Group 4 had the highest birth weight among all groups, significantly higher than Group 1 (P<0.05). In the early stage from birth to 15 days, the average body weight of lambs in Groups 4 and 3 on day 15 was significantly or extremely significantly higher than that of Groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the average daily weight gain from 0 to 15 days was significantly or extremely significantly higher than that of Groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and better than that of Groups 2, 5, and 6. In the later stage from 16 to 30 days, the average body weight and average daily weight gain of lambs in Groups 4, 3, and 5 continued to lead, with their body weight being extremely significantly higher than that of Group 1 (P<0.01), significantly higher than that of Groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05), and their average daily weight gain being significantly higher than that of other groups. It can be seen that as the growth time progresses, the growth advantages of experimental groups 4, 3 and 5 become more and more obvious, and the gap with experimental groups 1, 7 and 8 gradually widens.

[0078] Third, significant differences in growth advantages were observed at different stages: Looking at different stages of lamb growth, experimental group 4 exhibited outstanding growth advantages in both the early and late stages, with daily weight gain consistently remaining at a high level with minimal fluctuations, indicating that the intervention measures in experimental group 4 could continuously and stably promote lamb growth. Experimental groups 3 and 5 also showed significantly higher daily weight gain in both stages than experimental groups 1, 7, and 8, demonstrating good growth sustainability; while the daily weight gain of lambs in experimental group 1 was relatively low in both the early and late stages, indicating that its growth rate was relatively slow and more susceptible to external factors.

[0079] Overall, the intervention measures adopted in experimental groups 4 significantly improved the peripartum lamb weight and daily weight gain, and were significantly more effective than those in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8. Group 4, in particular, demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the growth process. Its intervention program, by optimizing nutrient delivery to ewes and enhancing lamb digestion and absorption, provided a favorable internal and external environment for lamb growth. This result indicates that the additive composition formulation described in this invention not only contributes to ewe health but also significantly promotes lamb growth and development, which is of great significance for improving the overall efficiency of ewe farming. Further research can be conducted on the long-term effects of the intervention measures on lamb growth and to explore the optimization potential of different formulation combinations.

[0080] Table 5. Changes in body weight and daily weight gain of lambs during the peripartum period (unit: kg)

[0081] (5) Immunological and stress-resistance indicators of breast milk Table 6 shows that there were significant differences in the immune and stress resistance indicators of the milk of ewes during the peripartum period among the different groups, mainly in two aspects: First, there were significant differences in the changes of immune and antioxidant indicators throughout lactation. Throughout lactation, the immune and antioxidant indicators in the milk of experimental groups 4 were particularly outstanding. According to variance analysis, the levels of IgG, IgA, and POD in experimental groups 4 were significantly higher than those in experimental group 1 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05). The level of MDA (anti-stress level is negatively correlated with MDA) was significantly lower than that in experimental group 1 (P<0.01), and significantly lower than those in other groups (P<0.05). The level of SOD in experimental group 4 was significantly higher than that in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05). The GSH-PX content in groups 4, 3, and 5 was significantly higher than that in group 1, and significantly higher than that in groups 7 and 8, respectively. The IgM content in group 4 was significantly higher than that in group 1, and significantly higher than that in groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05). The CRP content in group 1 was significantly higher than that in all other groups (P<0.05). These data fully demonstrate that the additive composition in groups 4 can significantly improve the immunity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant capacity of lactating ewes, and the effect is better than that in groups 7 and 8. This is crucial for lamb nursing, as the high-quality milk produced by healthy ewes is directly related to the maintenance of lamb health, growth performance, immunity, and survival rate.

[0082] Second, the differences in immune and anti-stress indicators gradually widened during the phases: In the colostrum stage, the levels of IgG, T-AOC, POD, and IgA in experimental group 4 were significantly higher than those in experimental group 1 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than those in experimental groups 7 and 8 (P<0.05). In addition, the IgA level was also significantly higher than that in experimental groups 2 and 6 (P<0.05). The GSH-PX levels in experimental groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were significantly higher than those in experimental group 1 (P<0.05), and the SOD levels were significantly higher than those in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8 (P<0.05). The IgM levels in experimental groups 3, 4, and 5 were significantly higher than those in experimental group 1 (P<0.05). The MDA level in experimental group 1 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 4 (P<0.01), and significantly higher than that in all groups except experimental group 7 (P<0.05). The CRP level in experimental group 1 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 4 (P<0.05). During the normal milk production stage, the advantages of the additive composition intervention group were maintained. According to the variance test, the contents of IgG, IgA, SOD, GSH-PX, and POD in experimental group 4 were significantly or extremely significantly higher than those in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8. In addition, the IgG content was also significantly higher than that in experimental groups 3, 5, and 6 (P<0.05). The T-AOC content in experimental group 4 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 1 (P<0.05), the CRP content was significantly lower than that in experimental group 1, and the MDA content was significantly lower than that in experimental groups 1, 7, and 8. The GSH-PX content in experimental groups 2, 3, 5, and 6 was significantly higher than that in experimental group 1 (P<0.05). The IgM content in experimental group 1 was significantly lower than that in all other groups except experimental group 7 (P<0.05), further highlighting the stage differences.

[0083] Overall, the additive compositions in experimental groups 4 of this application significantly enhanced the immune, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of ewes' milk during the peripartum period, effectively reducing oxidative stress levels, and showing better results than experimental groups 7 and 8. They demonstrated advantages throughout lactation, including in the colostrum and mature milk stages. This dual enhancement, both throughout and at each stage, provides lambs with a more stable and high-quality milk source, which is of immeasurable value for lambs' healthy development, immune system establishment, growth performance promotion, and survival rate improvement. The effects in experimental group 4 were particularly significant, providing important evidence for optimizing breeding management and improving breeding efficiency. The intervention strategy of the additive compositions described in this application not only strengthens ewe breeding but also opens up new paths for the efficient and sustainable development of animal husbandry.

[0084] Table 6. Statistical table of immune, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant indicators of milk from ewes during the peripartum period.

[0085] (6) Economic benefit analysis The feed additive provided by this invention exhibits excellent performance in improving the reproductive efficiency of ewes and the health of lambs, resulting in significant economic benefits. Specific analysis is as follows: ①Analytical methods and benchmarks Income from weaned lambs: calculated based on the average market price of 600 yuan per lamb in recent years.

[0086] Basic cost: The feed cost for a lamb from birth to weaning is approximately 100 yuan per lamb. The basic gross profit for each successfully weaned lamb is 600 - 100 = 500 yuan. This value is the theoretical profit benchmark for a single lamb in the control group.

[0087] Cost accounting for the experimental group: The experimental group incurred additional costs due to the use of additives, but also saved some expenses. The net increase in cost per weaned lamb was calculated using the following formula: Lamb cost allocation = (Ewe additive cost - decrease in labor and veterinary drug costs - cost of substitute raw materials deducted) / number of weaned lambs born to the ewe.

[0088] Benefit per lamb: Increased benefit per weaned lamb = 600 yuan (selling price) - lamb-allocated cost. This value directly reflects the revenue per lamb after deducting all net increased costs incurred due to experimental measures.

[0089] ② Comparison of the benefits of weaning lambs Based on the above method, the calculation results of the weaning lamb benefits for each experimental group and the control group are shown in Table 7.

[0090] Table 7. Benefit Analysis of Weaned Lambs (Unit: Yuan)

[0091] ③ Comprehensive economic benefit assessment As shown in Table 8, by improving the survival rate of weaned lambs and reducing the morbidity rate of lambs, the overall benefits of ewes in the experimental group were significantly improved. Although the benefits per lamb in the experimental group decreased slightly, the economic benefits were greatly improved in terms of annual output per ewe because the additive combination significantly improved the health level of ewes and the survival rate of lambs. The economic value created by ewes in experimental groups 2-8 and the net benefits compared with the control group were significantly improved. Among them, experimental groups 2 and 4 performed the best. However, in terms of overall health level (including immunity and stress resistance), improvement in reproductive and production performance, lamb weaning survival rate and economic benefits, experimental group 4 performed the best.

[0092] Table 8. Statistics on the economic benefits generated by each experimental group

[0093] Experimental Example 2 In 2023, a feeding experiment of the herbal health feed described in this invention was conducted at the Bayannur City Agricultural Research Institute Experimental Sheep Farm in Chunguang Village, Shanba Town, Hangjinhou Banner. Sixty Du Han crossbred ewes (15 in each group) were selected and divided into experimental group 1 (control group) and experimental groups 2, 3, and 4 (feed additive composition experimental groups). Experimental group 1 was fed concentrate supplement, and the formula of experimental group 1 is shown in Table 1. Experimental groups 2, 3, and 4 were fed concentrate feeds of Examples 2-1 to 2-3, respectively. The detailed formula composition is shown in Table 1.

[0094] The results were as follows: In the control group, three ewes developed mastitis and gave birth to weak lambs. One ewe developed mastitis on the third day postpartum, with blood components in her colostrum. She was culled after antibiotic treatment proved ineffective (her two lambs subsequently died). The second ewe developed inflammation on one mammary gland ten days postpartum, followed by secondary infection on the other. She was culled after persistent treatment proved ineffective (two lambs were artificially fed with additional labor, but one died due to its weak constitution). The third ewe gave birth to two weak lambs, one of which died on the same day, and the other on the third day. The ewes in the feed additive composition experimental group had glossy coats, were in good condition, and did not develop mastitis throughout the entire process.

[0095] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A feed additive for improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period, characterized in that, The feed additive comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: The traditional Chinese medicine composition consists of 50-150 parts, and vitamin C consists of 2-5 parts. The traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: Astragalus membranaceus 20-30 parts, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala 15-25 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 15-25 parts, Angelica sinensis 8-15 parts, prepared Glycyrrhiza uralensis 6-15 parts, Citrus reticulata 3-8 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 5-10 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1-3 parts, Paeonia lactiflora 1-5 parts, and Lonicera japonica 1-3 parts.

2. The feed additive for improving the health of peripartum ewes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feed additive comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 100 parts of traditional Chinese medicine composition and 4 parts of vitamin C; The traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: Astragalus membranaceus 20 parts, Atractylodes macrocephala stir-fried with wheat bran 15 parts, Codonopsis pilosula 15 parts, Angelica sinensis 8 parts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis prepared with wheat bran 8 parts, Citrus reticulata peel 4 parts, Cimicifuga foetida 6 parts, Eucommia ulmoides 1 part, Paeonia lactiflora 2 parts, and Lonicera japonica 1 part.

3. A method for preparing a feed additive to improve the health of peripartum ewes according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Mix the stated weight parts of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

4. A concentrated feed, characterized in that, The raw materials for the concentrated feed include the feed additives as described in claim 1 or 2, or the feed additives prepared by the preparation method as described in claim 3.

5. The concentrated feed according to claim 4, characterized in that, The feed additives account for 0.54wt% to 1.55wt% of the total concentrate feed; the remainder is concentrate supplement.

6. The concentrated feed according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The concentrate supplement comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 55-56 parts corn, 18-20 parts soybean meal, 8-11 parts standard flour, 5-7 parts cottonseed meal, 3.45-4.5 parts DDGS, and 4-6 parts premixed feed.

7. A feeding method for improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period, characterized in that, Feeding ewes the concentrate feed as described in any one of claims 4-6.

8. The feeding method for improving the health of ewes during the peripartum period according to claim 7, characterized in that, The feeding method includes: (1) Feed the ewes 0.5~0.85kg / day / head of the aforementioned concentrate feed from 30 days to 4 days before giving birth; (2) Feed the ewe 0.3~0.6kg / day / head of the concentrated feed on the 3rd day before delivery and the 2nd day after delivery; (3) From the second day before delivery to the first day after delivery, the ewe should be fed only with high-quality hay and allowed to graze freely. (4) From the 3rd to the 30th day after the ewe gives birth, feed each single lamb ewe 0.6~0.9 kg / day / head of the concentrated feed. For each additional lamb, increase the amount of the concentrated feed by 0.2~0.3 kg / day / head.

9. The feeding method for improving the health of peripartum ewes according to claim 8, characterized in that, The high-quality hay is selected from at least one of alfalfa hay and oat hay.

10. The use of a feed additive as described in claim 1 or 2, a feed additive prepared by the preparation method as described in claim 3, a concentrate feed as described in any one of claims 4-6, or a feeding method as described in any one of claims 7-9 in feeding ewes during the peripartum period.

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