Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (8): 3849-3860.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2025.08.025

• Animal Nutrition and Feeds • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Rumen-Protected Fat on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemistry and Slaughter Performance of Fattening Yaks

YUAN Yue1,2(), ZHOU Jianxu3, LUO Xiaolin2, GUAN Jiuqiang2, AN Tianwu2, ZHAO Hongwen2, BAI Qin2, REN Zili1, ZHANG Xiangfei2,*(), ZHAO Yanling1,*()   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science, Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China
    2. Institute of Plateau Animals, Sichuan Academy of Grassland Sciences, Chengdu 611731, China
    3. Science and Technology, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Water Affairs Bureau of Xiaojin County, Xiaojin 624200, China
  • Received:2024-08-23 Online:2025-08-23 Published:2025-08-28
  • Contact: ZHANG Xiangfei, ZHAO Yanling E-mail:yyovnn@foxmail.com;zxfsicau@foxmail.com;ylzhaohn@163.com

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary rumen-protected fat (RPF) addition on growth performance, serum biochemistry, slaughter performance and meat quality of fattening yaks. Twenty-four male yaks with similar body weight (275.63±9.84 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (8 in each group) and were fed basal diet (CON), basal diet with 1.5% RPF (RPF 1.5) supplementation, and basal diet with 3.0% RPF (RPF 3.0) supplementation, respectively. The experimental period was 90 d. All yaks were weighed at the beginning and the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of yaks before morning feeding on the last trial day to analyse the differences in blood biochemistry and hormone secretion. Three yaks from each group were selected to determine the slaughter performance including carcass characteristics, and the longissimus dorsi muscle were collected for meat quality analysis. The results showed no significant impact of RPF supplementation on the feed intake, the average daily weight gain of fattening yaks was significantly increased by RPF addition, the average daily weight gain of yaks in the RPF3.0 group reached 900.69 g ·d-1 which reduced the feed to gain ration significantly as well (P < 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen concentration in PRF groups were significantly higher than that in CON group (P < 0.05). Serum lipid metabolites triglycerides, cholesterol, and non-esterified fatty acids were significantly increased in the RPF 3.0 group (P < 0.05), and the lipid transport molecules very low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein B100 were significantly elevated in the serum of RPF1.5 and RPF3.0 yaks (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 1.5% and 3.0% RPF significantly increased serum insulin and leptin secretion levels in fattening yaks (P < 0.05). The carcass traits were higher in the RPF1.5 and RPF 3.0 groups than those in the CON group, but did not reach a significant level. The yak carcass weight, and net meat weight in RPF 1.5 group as well as ribeye area, carcass weight, net meat weight, dressing percentage and net meat percentage in RPF 3.0 group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the CON group. The RPF 3.0 treatment significantly increased the cooked meat percentage of the longissimus dorsi muscle compared to the CON group (P < 0.05), meanwhile significantly decreased the muscle shear force (P < 0.05). In conclusion, under the condition of the current experiment, dietary supplementation of RPF can enhance the growth performance of fattening yaks, and improve slaughter performance and meat quality by promoting regulation hormone secretion and lipid metabolism.

Key words: fattening yak, rumen protected fat, growth performance, serum biochemistry, slaughter performance

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