Effects of Forage-to-Concentrate Ratio During Cold-Season Supplementation on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemistry, Hormones, and Antioxidant Capacity in Yak Calves on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

文献类型: 外文期刊

第一作者: Bao, Yuhong

作者: Bao, Yuhong;Yang, Xuetao;Shi, Ruizhi;Liao, Yangci;Zhou, Jia

作者机构:

关键词: yak calves; forage-to-concentrate; cold-season supplementation; growth performance; serum biochemistry; hormone profile; antioxidant capacity

期刊名称:ANIMALS ( 影响因子:2.7; 五年影响因子:3.2 )

ISSN: 2076-2615

年卷期: 2025 年 15 卷 17 期

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收录情况: SCI

摘要: This study investigated the effects of different forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratios during cold-season supplementation on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, hormone levels, and antioxidant capacity in yak calves on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Eighteen 8-months-old male yaks with similar body weights (110.01 +/- 2.08 kg) were randomly assigned to two groups receiving diets with high (F:C = 7:3) or low (F:C = 3:7) forage. The trial lasted 60 days, including early (days 0-30) and late (days 31-60) experimental stages. Body weight was measured, and serum samples were collected on days 30 and 60 for biochemical and hormonal analyses. Yaks in the low-forage group showed significantly greater average daily gain during both stages and the entire experiment (p < 0.05), with a 7.92% increase in final body weight. Serum total protein and globulin levels were significantly higher in the low-forage group throughout the trial (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), while other biochemical parameters remained unaffected. Growth hormone concentrations were significantly elevated in the low-forage group at both stages (p < 0.05). Additionally, malondialdehyde levels tended to decrease in the early stage (p = 0.056), and total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in the late experimental stage (p = 0.040) in the low-forage group. A higher net economic benefit was observed in the group fed an F:C ratio of 3:7 than in the 7:3 group. These findings suggest that cold-season supplementation with a low-forage diet improves growth performance and protein utilization in yak calves but may negatively impact antioxidant status. An optimal F:C balance should therefore be considered to support both performance and health in yak husbandry under harsh environmental conditions.

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