Effects of dietary capsaicin on growth performance, rumen fermentation, methane production, blood indexes and microbial flora of mutton sheep

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of capsaicin on Growth performance, Rumen fermentation, Methane production, Blood parameters and Microflora in mutton sheep.32 mutton sheep were assigned to 4 blocks of 8 mutton sheep. Supplementary capsaicin (content, 98%) at 0, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg were used in the control group (I) and three treatment groups (II, III and IV) respectively.To sum up, dietary supplementation of 50 and 100 mg/Kg capsaicin could improve the feed-to-weight ratio, blood biochemistry and antioxidant capacity of mutton sheep, and change the rumen fermentation pattern, the relative abundance of rumen flora, and the value of methane emissions. It was lower than the control group, but had no significant effect on dry matter intake, daily gain, and nutrient digestibility; adding 200 mg/Kg