Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (3): 546-555.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2020.03.014

• ANIMAL NUTRITION AND FEEDS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Feeding Level on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Body Energy Deposition of Male Arctic Foxes during the Growth Period

ZHONG Wei1, MU Linlin1, HAN Feifei1, ZHANG Xinyu1, DU Dongsheng2, LI Guangyu1*   

  1. 1. Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Molecular Biology, Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China;
    2. Shenyang Boyang Feed co. LTD, Shenyang 110218, China
  • Received:2019-10-08 Online:2020-03-25 Published:2020-03-20

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to study the effect of feeding level on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and body energy deposition of Arctic foxes during the growth period. Forty-six 85-day-old healthy male Arctic foxes with average body weight of(3 198±281)g were selected, including 6 Arctic foxes as slaughter trial control at the beginning of the trial, another 40 Arctic foxes randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 replicates per group and 1 fox per replicate. The foxes were offered diet for ad libitum (AL) (Group I), 80% (IR 80) (Group II), 60% (IR60) (Group III) and 40% (IR 40) (Group IV) of ad libitum intake, respectively. The experiment was 7 days for adaption and 55 days for trial period. The parameters of growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and body energy deposition were evaluated by means of feeding, serological and slaughter trials and chemical analysis methods. The results showed as follows:1) 100-day-old body weight in group IV was extremely significantly lower than those in group I and II (P<0.01), and no significant difference was found between group IV and III (P>0.05). Body weight at the age of 115,130,145 days and average daily gain(ADG) in group IV were extremely significantly lower than those in the other groups(P<0.01),whereas no significant difference was detected among the three groups (P>0.05). With the decrease of feeding level, average dry matter intake (ADFI) showed a extremely significant decrease trend (P<0.01). Feed to gain ratio (F/G) in group III was extremely significantly lower than those in group I and II(P<0.01), whereas no significant difference was found in F/G between group III and IV(P>0.05). 2) Serum glucose(GLU) in group IV was obviously higher than that in group III(P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was found among group I, II and IV(P>0.05). Serum CHO and LDL-C in group IV were extremely significantly higher than those in the other groups(P<0.01), whereas no significant difference was found among group I, II and III(P>0.05). Serum TP and ALB in group IV were significantly higher than those in group I and III(P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was found between group II and IV(P>0.05). There were no significant effects on serum TG, HDL-C, GLOB, IgA, IgM,IgG,C3, C4 and INS contents within different feed intake levels(P>0.05).3) With the decrease of feeding level, pelt fat deposition and its energy deposition had significantly decreased trend, which was significantly higher in group I and II than those in group III and IV(P<0.05). Pelt weight gain and total energy deposition in group II were significantly higher than those in group IV(P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was found among group I, II and III(P>0.05). Carcass weight gain in group IV was extremely significantly lower than that in the other groups (P<0.01), whereas no significant difference was found among group I, II and III(P>0.05). There were no significant effects on the pelt protein deposition and its energy deposition, carcass fat deposition and its energy deposition, carcass protein deposition and its energy deposition as well as total energy deposition of carcass fed different feed intake levels(P>0.05). Feeding 60% of ad libitum intake (IR60) reduces the contents of serum GLU and lipid parameters, ensures the normal growth and health state of body, improves the feed efficiency, thus increases the benefit of breeding production of Arctic fox during the growth period.

Key words: Arctic fox, growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, energy deposition

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