Abstract
Simple SummaryIn Central Italy Apennine sheep represent the most bred species, which is still bred today in a semi-extensive manner, exploiting the natural pastures. However, the increase in summer aridity induces a decrease in the pastoral value of the grasslands, resulting in poor animal performance and production. Only research-derived innovation can support farmers’ economy in order to maintain the pastoral activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cereals supplementation on body condition score and metabolic hormones profile in milking ewes grazing on semi-natural pastures on mid mountain rangelands. Our findings showed that feed supplementation preserves grazing ewes from the usual lowering of the body state associated to the lactation period and sustains the metabolic status of animals. Taken together, our results could represent a helpful instrument in the farm management practices.This study aimed to investigate the effects of feed supplementation on body condition score (BCS) and different metabolic hormones concentration in lactating sheep reared in Italian Central Apennine pastures during the grazing summer period. In this study, 24 Comisana x Appenninica pluriparous ewes from June until August were divided into two homogenous groups: the control group (UNS) was free to graze, while the other group (SUP), in addition to grazing, was supplemented with 600 g/day/head of cereals. At the start of the supplementation and at an interval of 9–10 days until the end of experimentation, BCS evaluation and blood withdrawal to assay nesfatin-1, insulin, glucagon, leptin, triiodothyronine and cortisol levels were performed. Univariable analysis showed no remarkable differences between the groups, while multivariable analysis suggested that the UNS group was characterized by a lower BCS and greater nesfatin-1 than the SUP group. These findings can be considered in relation to milk production, which shows a clear better persistence in the SUP group. Our results indicate that nutritional supplementation has protected ewes from the usual lowering of the body state linked to lactation and provides a good maintenance of milk production, determining also a better overall body and metabolic state of the animals, which is important at the beginning of the sexual season.
Highlights
It is well known how the feeding strategies and the state of nutrition are fundamental to improve productions in the livestock species
It has been stamped that endocrine and neuroendocrine events play a fundamental role in regulating food intake and energy homeostasis
The two ewes groups observed in the present study show very similar changes of the mean body condition score (BCS) value while, considering the univariable model analysis, no significant differences in the BCS changes and hormonal profiles between the two groups were noted
Summary
It is well known how the feeding strategies and the state of nutrition are fundamental to improve productions in the livestock species. In the sub-Mediterranean areas, drought stress, due to the increasing summer aridity, is progressively decreasing the pastoral value of natural and semi-natural pastures used as a trophic resource for ovine semi-extensive breeding, negatively reflecting on animal status [1,2,3]. This fact could be taken into account in the management of flocks reared in Apennine pastures during the spring–. A better nutrition status can improve the productive and reproductive efficiency through numerous factors, including the circulation of hormones as well as nutrientsensitive metabolites [6]. The process of digestion can induce changes in different hormones due to mechanical or chemical stimulation of receptors in the digestive tract
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