# Dietary Defective Jujube as a Corn Substitute: Impacts on Growth Performance, Meat Traits, and Alternaria Toxin Exposure in Lambs

## TL;DR

Defective jujube can safely replace up to 30% of corn in lamb diets, improving growth, digestion, and blood health without harmful toxin buildup.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that defective jujube is a viable, safe corn substitute in lamb feed, improving metabolic and antioxidant profiles.

## Key findings

- Replacing corn with 30% defective jujube improved nutrient utilization and blood lipid metabolism in lambs.
- Feeding defective jujube increased antioxidant enzymes and reduced liver damage markers in lambs.
- No Alternaria toxins were detected in lamb organs, confirming the safety of defective jujube as a feed substitute.

## Abstract

Using by-products such as defective jujube in ruminant feed helps address global feed shortages and lowers costs. Defective jujube shares nutritional traits with corn and contains bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and vitamin C. This study evaluated whether defective jujube could replace corn as an energy feed. Thirty-six Karakul lambs (3 months old, 19.43 ± 2.55 kg) were randomly assigned to three groups and fed 0% (CON), 15% (DJ15), or 30% (DJ30) DJ. Results showed that defective jujube substitution sustained normal growth, enhanced blood antioxidant capacity, improved nutrient utilization efficiency, and regulated blood lipid metabolism in Karakul lambs. Defective jujube can be substituted for corn, and up to 30% replacement in the Karakul lamb diet is safe.

This study evaluated the effects of replacing corn with defective jujube (DJ) on growth, digestibility, blood biochemical indices, meat performance, and the presence of Alternaria toxin residues in Karakul lambs. Thirty-six lambs were split into groups given 0%, 15%, or 30% DJ, replacing 0%, 45.45%, and 90.91% of corn. The trial lasted 75 days, with 15 days for adaptation and 60 days for measurement. Digestibility for crude protein and ether extract of male lambs increased in the DJ30 group over CON (p < 0.05). High-density lipoprotein decreased in DJ30 (p < 0.01), while triglycerides and total cholesterol in DJ30 dropped (p < 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen and aspartate aminotransferase decreased in DJ15 and DJ30 (p < 0.01). Superoxide dismutase and catalase rose in DJ30 (p < 0.01), while malondialdehyde declined (p < 0.05). Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 increased in DJ30 (p < 0.01). Feeding DJ did not affect meat production or quality. No Alternaria toxins were detected in rumen, liver, or meat. Feeding 15–30% DJ improved nitrogen utilization, lipid metabolism, and blood antioxidant levels in lambs and reduced the risk of liver damage, while no Alternaria toxin remained in organs. A 30% DJ substitution for corn is a safe strategy for lamb feeding.