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Functional native herbage (FNH), rich in bioactive components and secondary metabolites, holds potential for enhancing the productivity of grazing livestock and mitigating methane (CH 4 ) emissions. The processing of Lycium barbarum yields byproducts rich in flavonoids, polysaccharides, betaine, and other bioactive compounds, which may serve as effective livestock feed additives. This study aimed to assess the effects of L. barbarum byproducts on digestion, metabolism, and CH 4 emissions in sheep grazing on sown pastures in northwest China. Twenty-four 6-month-old male sheep with similar body conditions were selected and randomly assigned to four groups ( n = 6) based on dietary treatments: an unsupplemented control group (CON), a 2.5% L. barbarum seed (LBS)-supplemented group, a 7.5% L. barbarum residue (LBR)-supplemented group, and a 2.5% L. barbarum twigs (LBT)-supplemented group. The experiment lasted for a total of 75 d. Digestive metabolism experiments and respiratory gas measurement tests were conducted. Compared to the CON group, supplementation with 2.5% L. barbarum seed or 7.5% L. barbarum residue increased ( P 0.05), while daily CH 4 emissions and CH 4 emissions per unit of grass area were reduced by 17.05% ( P < 0.05) each. The judicious application of L. barbarum byproducts in livestock production can enhance the productivity of grazing sheep, optimize resource utilization, reduce CH 4 emissions, ameliorate the ecological environment, and foster the sustainable development of animal husbandry.
Zhang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.