Abstract:

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of epimedium on the reproductive performance of Small Tailed Han sheep and the appropriate addition ratio in the feed. A total of 192 six-month-old Small Tailed Han sheep, half male and half female, were randomly divided into four male groups and four female groups. Each group of 24 sheep was divided into 3 replicates with 8 sheep in each, and housed in separate pens. The control male and female groups were fed a basal diet, while the three male test groups and three female test groups were fed a diet containing 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% epimedium, respectively, for a 75-day feeding trial. The results showed that epimedium could increase the feed consumption of male sheep, promote growth and development and improve the sperm volume, sperm concentration, and reduce the abnormal rate of male sheep to varying degrees, and increase the blood testosterone concentration of male sheep. Among them, the 1.0% epimedium group was significantly different from the control group (P<0.05), and the 1.5% epimedium group was extremely significantly different from the control group (P<0.01). However, the feed consumption and the feed-to-weight ratio increased; epimedium could promote the growth and development of female sheep, reduce feed consumption, but there was no significant statistical difference (P>0.05); epimedium could improve the live lambing rate, lambing rate, FSH and LH concentrations of female sheep to varying degrees. Among them, the 1.5% epimedium group was significantly different from the control group (P<0.05). The experiment showed that adding a certain proportion of epimedium could improve the reproductive performance of both male and female Small Tailed Han sheep, increase the feed consumption of male sheep but not increase the feed consumption of female sheep, and help improve immunity.

Key words: epimedium, Small Tailed Han sheep, feed conversion ratio, reproduction, reproductive hormones, sperm density, litter number