China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (7): 2718-2728.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2023.07.013

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Herbal Tea Residue and Earthworm Hydrolysate on Production Performance, Behavior and Blood Indexes of Cattle Under Heat-moisture Condition

QIU Jingyun1, OU Xiang1, ZHONG Wei2, LEI Xiaowen1, QIU Qinghua3, OUYANG Kehui3, LIN Mianfang2, ZHONG Yunping1, LI Changkun2, LIAO Yueming4, CHEN Rongqiang1   

  1. 1. Institute of Ganzhou Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Ganzhou 341401, China;
    2. Huichang Agricultural Technology Extension Center, Ganzhou 342600, China;
    3. College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China;
    4. Longnan Agriculture and Rural Bureau, Ganzhou 341700, China
  • Received:2022-12-08 Published:2023-06-30

Abstract: 【Objective】 The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of herbal tea residue and earthworm hydrolysate on the production performance, behavior and blood indexes of cattle under heat-moisture condition.【Method】 24 healthy fattening Simmental crossbred cattle of 22-24 months with similar body weight were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups:Control group(CON group, feeding basal diet), herbal tea residue group(HT group, feeding basal diet supplemented with 9.5% herbal tea residue) and earthworm hydrolysate group (EF group, feeding basal diet supplemented with 0.37% earthworm hydrolysate).The trial period was 45 days, pre-feeding period was 3 days, and the feeding period was 42 days.The air temperature and humidity of the cowshed were recorded daily, and the temperature-humidity index was calculated.The cattle were weighed on the first and last day of the feeding period.Feed intake was recorded every 7 days, and average daily gain (ADG), average dry matter intake (ADFI) and feed to gain ratio (F/G) were calculated.Serum cortisol (Cor) concentration was determined on the first day of the pre-feeding period, and respiratory rate (RR) was recorded on the first to third day of the pre-feeding period.The standing time, lying time, rumination time, feeding time and RR of beef cattle were recorded from days 39 to 41 of the feeding period.On the 42nd day of the trial period, blood samples were collected before morning feeding to determine serum biochemical indexes, hormone indexes and antioxidant capacity indexes.【Result】 During the trial, the cattle was in a heat-moisture condition, the air temperature was 19.1 to 39.9 ℃, and the humidity was 31.7% to 89.7%.Compared with CON group, ①the concentrations of Cor and heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) in serum of cattle were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and RR of cattle were significantly decreased in HT and EF groups (P<0.05).②ADG of cattle was significantly increased (P<0.05), and F/G was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in HT group.While F/G in EF group had no significant difference (P>0.05).③The time of feeding and standing of cattle were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the time of lying of cattle were significantly increased (P<0.05) in HT and EF groups.④The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum of cattle in HT and EF groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the concentrations of malonaldehyde in HT group was significantly decreased (P<0.05).【Conclusion】 Under heat-moisture condition, the heat stress was effectively relieved, and comfort behavior expression could be improved in cattle fed diets supplemented with herbal tea residue or earthworm hydrolysate.The effects of herbal tea residue was better than earthworm hydrolysate on improving growth performance and antioxidant capacity of cattle.

Key words: heat-moisture condition; herbal tea residue; earthworm hydrolysate; cattle; production performance; behavior

CLC Number: