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- Title
Productive performance and reproductive characteristics of Morada Nova male lambs fed with high-energy diet.
- Authors
do Nascimento Barreto, Andréa; Guimarães Maciel e Silva, André; Esteves, Sergio Novita; Jacinto, Manuel Antonio Chagas; Barioni Junior, Waldomiro; Brandão, Felipe Zandonadi; de Andrade Pantoja, Messy Hannear; Botta, Daniela; Romanello, Narian; Lemes, Amanda Prudêncio; Giro, Alessandro; Garcia, Alexandre Rossetto
- Abstract
Morada Nova breed sheep are without wool, tropicalized, small-sized animals, known for their high-quality meat and skin. Their body development naturally depends on the genetic potential and adequate nutritional support, which suggests that the offer of high-energy density diets positively influences their productive indicators. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of a high-energy diet for the Morada Nova lambs on body development and testicular function, considering their histomorphometric characteristics and seminal quality. Forty-two males (19.2 weeks, 20.7 ± 3.5 kg) were equally divided into two groups and fed with 2.05 Mcal (G7, n = 21) or 2.37 Mcal (G24, n = 21) of metabolizable energy/day, equivalent to 7% and 24% above the minimum for growing lambs. The animals were confined for 23 weeks (W0 to W23). Weight and body score differed significantly from the W1 (P < 0.05). From the W5, thoracic perimeter, body length, wither height, and rump attributes were higher in G24 (P < 0.05). The scrotal circumference and testicular volume were higher in G24 from the W3 (P < 0.05). Although testosterone levels were not affected (P = 0.05), the highest energy intake increased the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the development of the epididymal epithelium (P < 0.05). This positively influenced the seminal quality and reduced the minor defects (21.87% vs. 17.13%) and the total spermatic defects (26.34% vs. 21.78%, P < 0.05). Thus, it is possible to employ higher levels of dietary energy for Morada Nova young males to express higher productive efficiency and earlier reproductive attributes of interest.
- Subjects
LAMBS; GROUP of Seven (Organization); SHEEP breeds; SEMINIFEROUS tubules; BODY weight; ERECTOR spinae muscles; SCROTUM; FISH food
- Publication
Tropical Animal Health & Production, 2019, Vol 51, Issue 8, p2481
- ISSN
0049-4747
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11250-019-01969-0