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REVIEW PAPER
Evaluating the potential of fermented concentrate feeds
on lamb growth performance: A meta-analysis
1
Inner Mongolia University, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock,
010021 Hohhot, China
2
Inner Mongolia University, National Sheep Genetic Evaluation Center, 010070 Hohhot, China
3
Universitas Sebelas Maret, Vocational School, 57126 Surakarta, Indonesia
4
National Research Centre, Department of Dairy Science, 12622 Giza, Egypt
5
University of Leipzig, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics,
04103 Leipzig, Germany
6
Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition,
60-637 Poznań, Poland
7
Universitas Padjadjaran, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology,
45363 Jatinangor, Indonesia
8
Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Department of Genetics and Animal
Breeding, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
9
Assiut University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, 71515 Asyut, Egypt
10
Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Faculty of Animal Science, Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction,
010018 Hohhot, China
Publication date: 2025-09-26
Corresponding author
M. Gao
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Fermented feeds (FFs) are known for high nutritional value and
digestibility, but their impact on sheep growth performance remains inconsistent
between studies. This meta-analysis systematically evaluates the effect of
FFs on sheep growth. A comprehensive search was conducted using Google
Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases to identify relevant studies
published between January 1990 and June 2024. Eleven studies comprising
a total of 366 lambs met the established criteria. Growth parameters, including
average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed
conversion ratio (FCR) were extracted and analysed using a random-effects
model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the
stability of the results. FF supplementation as an energy source significantly
improved ADG by 2.86 g/day (95% CI: 0.24–5.48, P = 0.032) but did not affect
ADFI (P > 0.05). When used as a protein source, FF elevated ADFI (95% CI:
0.93–21.95, P = 0.032). Marked improvements in FCR were observed with both
energy (standardised mean difference (SMD) = −3.95; P < 0.001) and proteinbased
FF (SMD= −5.02; P < 0.001). Microbial inoculants (Lactobacillus/Bacillus
and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) positively affected ADG and FCR, although
with significant heterogeneity (I2 > 75%), likely due to variations in substrates,
strains, or feeding protocols. FFs used as either an energy or protein source can
significantly improve lamb growth performance, particularly in terms of FCR and
ADG, with microbial agents playing an important role.
FUNDING
This work was supported by the Bayannur
Science And Technology Key Breakthrough Project
(Grant No. NMKJXM202404-1) and the National
Ministry-Region Joint Project, China (Grant No.
21132), specifically under subproject (Grant No.
10000-23112101/177). The publication was cofinanced
by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region Science and Technology Plan (Grant No.
2023YFHH0114), the Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region Open Competition Projects (Grant No.
2022JBGS0024), the Agriculture Research System of
China (Cars38), and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region Department of Education first-class scientific
research project (Grant No. YLXKZX-ND-026;
YLXKZX-ND-029).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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