Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs

This study aimed to assess the effect of co-supplementing rumen-protected fat and rumen-protected choline on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in lambs. Using a randomized experimental design, 45 weaned female Tian×Hu crossbred lambs (3 months old; average body weight: 27.34 ± 0.5...

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Main Authors: Haitao Liu, Fadi Li, Fei Li, Zhiyuan Ma, Tao Wang, Qinwu Li, Xinji Wang, Kaidong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/525
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author Haitao Liu
Fadi Li
Fei Li
Zhiyuan Ma
Tao Wang
Qinwu Li
Xinji Wang
Kaidong Li
author_facet Haitao Liu
Fadi Li
Fei Li
Zhiyuan Ma
Tao Wang
Qinwu Li
Xinji Wang
Kaidong Li
author_sort Haitao Liu
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to assess the effect of co-supplementing rumen-protected fat and rumen-protected choline on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in lambs. Using a randomized experimental design, 45 weaned female Tian×Hu crossbred lambs (3 months old; average body weight: 27.34 ± 0.57 kg, mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatment groups. The three dietary treatments were as follows: a basal diet group (CON), a group receiving 2% rumen-protected fat in place of 2% barley (RPF), and a group supplemented with 2% rumen-protected fat and 0.4% rumen-protected choline, replacing 2% barley and 0.4% corn germ in the basal diet (RPFC). Compared to the CON group, neither the RPF nor RPFC treatments resulted in significant differences in growth performance (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, the RPFC group showed a 5.3% increase in dry matter intake (DMI) compared to the RPF group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with the CON, the RPF treatment increased 69.23% the relative abundance of C18:2n-6t (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but the content of C17:0, C17:1, C18:1n-9c, and iso-C18:0 in <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> was decreased by 16.49%, 15.78%, 6.45% and 27.78%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The RPFC treatment increased the relative abundance of C16:1 in <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The RPF and RPFC treatments significantly increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol compared to the CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The RPF treatment raised HDL by 50.00% and total cholesterol by 38.03%, while the RPFC treatment increased HDL by 39.47% and total cholesterol by 26.03%. Furthermore, compared to the RPF group, the RPFC treatment led to a 13.47% increase in the 45 min b* color value of the <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and a significant 45.45% reduction in the relative abundance of C18:2n-6t fatty acid in the same muscle (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In summary, rumen-protected choline reduces the negative effects of rumen-protected fat on feed intake in lambs and changes fatty acid profile in meat.
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spelling doaj-art-90bf7ec14a48433bb29044db5342c40a2025-08-20T02:21:54ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-05-0112652510.3390/vetsci12060525Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing LambsHaitao Liu0Fadi Li1Fei Li2Zhiyuan Ma3Tao Wang4Qinwu Li5Xinji Wang6Kaidong Li7State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaAnimal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, Wuwei 733399, ChinaAgricultural and Rural Bureau Zhongxing Town Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, Wuwei 733399, ChinaThis study aimed to assess the effect of co-supplementing rumen-protected fat and rumen-protected choline on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in lambs. Using a randomized experimental design, 45 weaned female Tian×Hu crossbred lambs (3 months old; average body weight: 27.34 ± 0.57 kg, mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatment groups. The three dietary treatments were as follows: a basal diet group (CON), a group receiving 2% rumen-protected fat in place of 2% barley (RPF), and a group supplemented with 2% rumen-protected fat and 0.4% rumen-protected choline, replacing 2% barley and 0.4% corn germ in the basal diet (RPFC). Compared to the CON group, neither the RPF nor RPFC treatments resulted in significant differences in growth performance (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, the RPFC group showed a 5.3% increase in dry matter intake (DMI) compared to the RPF group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with the CON, the RPF treatment increased 69.23% the relative abundance of C18:2n-6t (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but the content of C17:0, C17:1, C18:1n-9c, and iso-C18:0 in <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> was decreased by 16.49%, 15.78%, 6.45% and 27.78%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The RPFC treatment increased the relative abundance of C16:1 in <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The RPF and RPFC treatments significantly increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol compared to the CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The RPF treatment raised HDL by 50.00% and total cholesterol by 38.03%, while the RPFC treatment increased HDL by 39.47% and total cholesterol by 26.03%. Furthermore, compared to the RPF group, the RPFC treatment led to a 13.47% increase in the 45 min b* color value of the <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and a significant 45.45% reduction in the relative abundance of C18:2n-6t fatty acid in the same muscle (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In summary, rumen-protected choline reduces the negative effects of rumen-protected fat on feed intake in lambs and changes fatty acid profile in meat.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/525fatty acidlambsmeat qualityrumen-protected cholinerumen-protected fat
spellingShingle Haitao Liu
Fadi Li
Fei Li
Zhiyuan Ma
Tao Wang
Qinwu Li
Xinji Wang
Kaidong Li
Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
Veterinary Sciences
fatty acid
lambs
meat quality
rumen-protected choline
rumen-protected fat
title Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
title_full Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
title_fullStr Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
title_full_unstemmed Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
title_short Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
title_sort rumen protected fat and rumen protected choline co supplementation impacts on performance and meat quality of growing lambs
topic fatty acid
lambs
meat quality
rumen-protected choline
rumen-protected fat
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/525
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