There is a wide range of feed additives deliberately designed to be used in sheep diets that can improve production performance. Whereas herbal supplementation is gaining popularity not only for improving sheep productivity and mutton quality but also for safe application without any harmful residual effects. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and/or garlic leaf (Allium sativum) dietary supplementation on growth performance, immunity, rumen histology, serum antioxidants and meat quality of sheep. The experiment consisted of a completely randomized design with 32 one-year-old sheep (initial mean live weight 9 ± 0.2 kg) allocated to four groups (8 sheep per group). Rice straw and concentrates-based total mixed ration pellets (2390 kcal/kg DM, CP = 15.1%) were offered as a control diet (CL diet). Herbal treatment diets included (i) CL diet + 10 g DM of plantain herb (PL diet), (ii) CL diet + 10 g DM of garlic leaf (GL diet) and (iii) CL diet + 5 g DM of PL and 5 g DM of GL (PG diet). Compared with the CL diet group, the live weight gain and feed conversion ratio were 18% to 26% and 13% to 20% higher in herbal-supplemented groups, respectively. Moreover, the herbal-supplemented groups, especially the PL diet group had higher serum immunoglobulin concentration, antioxidant capacity and rumen papillae size compared to the control. Besides, the lowest caul fat and pelvic fat levels were observed in the PL diet group followed by PG, GL and CL diet groups. In addition, lower mutton ether extract and saturated fatty acid along with higher polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were found in all herbal-supplemented groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PL and/or GL might be used as an alternative in sheep to promote growth, health status and lean mutton production.

有多种饲料添加剂经过精心设计，可用于绵羊日粮，以提高生产性能。鉴于草药补充剂越来越受欢迎，不仅可以提高绵羊生产力和羊肉质量，而且可以安全使用，没有任何有害的残留影响。本研究旨在调查车前草 ( Plantago lanceolata L.) 和/或大蒜叶 ( Allium sativum) 膳食补充剂对羊的生长性能、免疫力、瘤胃组织学、血清抗氧化剂和肉质。该实验包括一个完全随机的设计，将 32 只一岁的绵羊（初始平均活重 9 ± 0.2 公斤）分配到四组（每组 8 只绵羊）。提供基于稻草和浓缩物的总混合日粮颗粒（2390 kcal/kg DM，CP = 15.1%）作为对照日粮（CL日粮）。草药治疗饮食包括 (i) CL 饮食 + 10 g DM 车前草（PL饮食），(ii) CL 饮食 + 10 g DM 大蒜叶（GL饮食）和 (iii) CL 饮食 + 5 g DM PL 和5 克 DM 的 GL ( PG饮食）。与 CL 日粮组相比，添加草药组的活体重增加和饲料转化率分别高出 18% 至 26% 和 13% 至 20%。此外，与对照组相比，添加草药的组，尤其是 PL 饮食组具有更高的血清免疫球蛋白浓度、抗氧化能力和瘤胃乳头大小。此外，在 PL 饮食组中观察到最低的 caul fat 和骨盆脂肪水平，其次是 PG、GL 和 CL 饮食组。此外，在所有补充草药的组中发现较低的羊肉醚提取物和饱和脂肪酸以及较高的多不饱和脂肪酸水平。总之，添加 PL 和/或 GL 的膳食补充剂可用作绵羊的替代品，以促进生长、健康状况和瘦羊肉生产。