LAUSR

Abstract This study aimed to assess the differences in gastrointestinal (GI) microflora and tissue morphology of Small-tailed Han sheep in grazing and confinement feeding systems. It was hypothesized that grazing and confinement feeding systems resulted in differences in the GI microflora and tissue morphology of Small-tailed Han sheep. Two-month-old male lambs were either allowed to graze or were fed in confinement. The total volume and pH of their ruminal fluid, the abundance of GI microflora, and GI tissue structures were compared (n = 10). The results showed that: (1) Change in body weight was greater in confinement lambs than in grazing lambs (P 0.05). In conclusion, grazing and confinement feeding systems resulted in differences in gastrointestinal morphology and intestinal microflora in Small-tailed Han lambs, and confinement feeding appears to be helpful for the gain of body weight.