Liu H, Lin Y, Chen X, Yang G. Effects of rumen-protected biotin on the growth performance, nitrogen utilization and blood parameters of yearling Liaoning cashmere doelings.
Anim Biosci 2023;
36:1685-1692. [PMID:
37641838 PMCID:
PMC10623043 DOI:
10.5713/ab.23.0078]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of rumen-protected biotin (RPB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization and plasma biochemical parameters of Liaoning cashmere goats during the cashmere fiber growing period.
METHODS
Sixteen 6-month-old Liaoning cashmere twin-doelings (24.8±1.20 kg) were allocated to 2 diet groups that were individually ad libitum fed 30% concentrate and 70% forage diet (dry matter [DM]) by a paired experimental design. Goats of the control group were fed the basal diet, while goats belonging to the RPB group were fed the basal diet with 10 mg RPB/d per animal. The duration of the experiment was 16 weeks with two 8-week periods. Digestibility was determined at weeks 7 and 15, and other measures were taken every four weeks.
RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the average daily gain of the RPB group increased by 10.94% (p<0.05), and the intake of neutral detergent fiber was increased (p = 0.045). There were some increasing tendencies for the intake of DM, acid detergent fiber and ether extract (p = 0.070, 0.088, and 0.070, respectively). The intake and digestibility of N tended to increase (p = 0.062 and 0.093, respectively), while the N fecal excretion percentage of N intake was decreased (p = 0.093) in the RPB compared with the control group. N retention tended to increase (p = 0.084) with the addition of adding RPB to the diet. Plasma total protein was increased (p = 0.037), whereas the urea-N concentration was decreased (p = 0.049) in the RPB diet group compared with the control diet group. The levels of propionyl-CoA carboxylase (p<0.001) and methylmalonyl-CoA (p = 0.013) were increased in the RPB group.
CONCLUSION
Supplementation of rumen-protected biotin in the diet of cashmere goats can enhance the utilization of N and improve daily weight gain during cashmere fiber growing period.
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