Digestive and endocrine regulation of protein metabolism in sheep fed garlic leaves

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24580385
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Zootechnical science/Grassland science
• Research Institution: Iwate University
• Principal Investigator: SANO Hiroaki 岩手大学, 農学部, 教授 (20196306)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: タンパク質代謝 / ニンニク茎葉 / 同位元素希釈法 / グルコースクランプ法 / 微生物態タンパク質 / 第一胃発酵 / ヒツジ / 飼料開発

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The increased public concern about residual effects of antibiotics led to ban in antibiotics usage as feed additives. Thus, research for natural alternatives to antibiotics is deemed important. The objectives of this experiment are to use garlic leaves as an animal feed stuff and to see its effects on rumen and body metabolism.
Six animals were offered mixed hay (MH) diet or garlic leaves (GL) diet (MH 10% replaced by garlic leaves). Digestive and endocrine functions were determined. Rumen pH, ammonia, and total volatile fatty acids were found similar between two diets. Microbial nitrogen supply, plasma leucine turnover rate and whole body protein synthesis were higher (P <0.05) in garlic diet, but plasma leucine turnover rate decreased during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp in both diets. Thus, it was concluded that in sheep garlic leaves enhanced protein metabolism without affect on digestive and endocrine functions.

Free Research Field

家畜栄養生理学