China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2020, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (8): 2454-2463.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2020.08.013

• Animal Nutrition and Feed Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Supplemental Vitamin A Levels of Concentrate Supplement on Nutrient Digestion,Blood Biochemical Indexes and Antler Yield of Red Deer at Antler Growing Stage

CAO Ying1, KUERBAN·Tulake1, YANG Kailun1, HE Heqian1, HUA Xingyao2, LI Lu3, JIN Dazhi1, YANG Wei1, LI Yanlin1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China;
    2. Changji Shenghua Domesticated Wapiti Breeding Base, Changji 831100, China;
    3. Urumqi Animal Husbandry Meteorological Experimental Station of Xinjiang, Urumqi 830034, China
  • Received:2020-02-25 Online:2020-08-20 Published:2020-08-15

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to study the effects of vitamin A levels of concentrate supplement on the digestion of dietary nutrients,blood biochemical indexes and antler yield of red deer.Eighteen Altai red deers,aged 5 to 7 years old with similar weight and good health were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups,with 6 replicates per group.And they were fed experimental concentrate supplements containing different vitamin A levels,which were 12 800 IU/kg (group Ⅰ),18 800 IU/kg (group Ⅱ) and 24 800 IU/kg (group Ⅲ) respectively.The deers were fed with roughage composed of alfalfa hay and straw freely.And the preliminary feeding period was 15 d and the trial period was 66 d.The results showed that:① The intake of dry matter (DM),organic matter (OM),calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in group Ⅰ were extremely significantly higher than that in the group Ⅱ (P<0.01),and the intake of crude protein (CP) and crude fat (EE) were significantly higher than that in group Ⅱ (P<0.05).CP and P intake in group Ⅲ were significantly higher than that in group Ⅱ (P<0.05).② The digestibility of P in group Ⅰ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in the digestibility of other nutrients among the groups (P>0.05).③ The addition of vitamin A in concentrate had no significant effect on protein metabolism and glucose and lipid metabolism in Altai red deer (P>0.05).However,total blood protein (TP) and blood glucose (GLU) increased with the increase of vitamin A,while total cholesterol (TC) and UREA nitrogen decreased.④ AST,ALT and ALP decreased with the increase of vitamin A level,among which the activity of ALP in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P<0.05).⑤ The blood immunoglobulin content increased with the increase of vitamin A level,among which the immunoglobulin G (IgG) content in group Ⅲ was significantly higher than that in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P<0.01).⑥Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in group Ⅲ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P<0.05) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P<0.01).Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the three groups increased significantly with the increase of vitamin A level (P<0.01).⑦ Blood growth hormone (GH) contents of groups Ⅲ and Ⅱ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.01),insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and vitamin A contents of group Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.01),blood estradiol (E2) level rises with concentrate vitamin A level (P<0.01).The blood testosterone (T) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-VD3) levels increased (P>0.05).⑧ There was no significant difference in velvet antler yield among the groups (P>0.05),with the highest antler yield in group Ⅰ and the lowest in group Ⅲ.To sum up,under the conditions of this experiment,Altai red deer had higher feed intake and antler yield when the vitamin A content of concentration was 12 800 IU/kg,while Altai red deer had stronger immune and antioxidant functions when the vitamin A content of concentration was 24 800 IU/kg.Comprehensive production benefits,recommended concentrate vitamin A level of 12 800 IU/kg was better.

Key words: Altai red deer; concentrate supplement; vitamin A; digestion; blood biochemical indexes

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