title: Rumen fermentation and histology in light lambs as affected by forage supply and lactation length.
abstract: This study determined whether the rumen fermentation and histology traits may reflect the feeding strategy in light lambs (22-24 kg). Thirty-two single Rasa Aragonesa lambs were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2×2 factorial design. The factors were the inclusion of forage in the diet (alfalfa grazing vs. concentrate-fed indoors) and lactation length (weaning at 13 kg vs. suckling until slaughter). A multivariate canonical analysis discriminated individuals among feeding strategies. The main function differentiated weaned concentrate-fed lambs from the rest according to dorsal sac papillae height, ventral sac muscular layer thickness and the proportion of rumen valerate. The second function differentiated suckling concentrate-fed lambs from the rest according to plasma urea levels. Lactation length played an important role on rumen histology and protein utilization, especially in concentrate-fed lambs. Alfalfa grazing light lambs had similar rumen morphometric measures and fermentation characteristics, regardless of milk access.
authors: Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Gobierno de Aragón, Avda. Montañana 930, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain. jalvarez@prodan.udl.cat
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Álvarez-Rodríguez
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Monleón
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sanz
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Badiola
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Joy
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D012417:Rumen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid