为了研究莲蓬壳在肉羊中的饲料化利用，本试验测定分析了莲蓬壳的常规营养成分含量，并开展了莲蓬壳在不同品种肉羊体内的消化代谢试验。体内消化代谢试验采用两因素3×4随机区组设计，两因素分别为肉羊品种（湖羊、努比亚山羊和福清山羊）和莲蓬壳替代基础饲粮比例（0、20%、40%和60%）。每个肉羊品种选择体况良好、体重相近的7~8月龄羯羊12只，随机分为4组（每组3只，每只试验羊单独圈养于自制消化代谢笼），分别饲喂基础饲粮（精粗比3 ∶ 7）和3种试验饲粮（以20%、40%和60%莲蓬壳替代基础饲粮），采用全收粪尿法测定饲粮中各营养物质表观消化率，并计算3种试验饲粮中莲蓬壳的营养物质表观消化率和有效能值。结果显示：1）莲蓬壳的总能（GE）、消化能（DE）、代谢能（ME）以及粗蛋白质（CP）、粗脂肪（EE）、中性洗涤纤维（NDF）、酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）、木质素（ADL）、粗灰分（Ash）、钙（Ca）和磷（P）[干物质（DM）基础]含量分别为16.95 MJ/kg、7.86 MJ/kg、6.45 MJ/kg、8.00%、10.00 g/kg、73.25%、53.00%、24.72%、6.20%、0.41%和0.15%。2）肉羊品种对饲粮中DM、GE和ADF的表观消化率有极显著影响（P<0.01），对OM和NDF的表观消化率有显著影响（P<0.05），以努比亚山羊对饲粮中营养物质的消化能力最优；莲蓬壳替代比例对饲粮中6种常规营养成分的表观消化率均有极显著影响（P<0.01），饲粮中DM、OM、CP、GE和NDF的表观消化率均随莲蓬壳替代比例的增加而降低；两因素的交互作用对饲粮中各营养成分的表观消化率均无显著影响（P>0.05）。3）除莲蓬壳替代比例对莲蓬壳中ADF的表观消化率具有极显著影响（P<0.01）外，两因素及其交互作用对莲蓬壳中各营养成分的表观消化率均无显著影响（P>0.05）。4）肉羊品种对粪氮、沉积氮、氮沉积率和氮生物学价值具有极显著影响（P<0.01），努比亚山羊的沉积氮均显著高于湖羊和福清山羊（P<0.05）；莲蓬壳替代比例对粪氮、沉积氮和氮沉积率存在极显著影响（P<0.01），对尿氮和氮生物学价值存在显著影响（P<0.05），以20%替代组的氮生物学价值最高，其次为40%替代组，两者均显著高于60%替代组（P<0.05）；两因素的交互作用对尿氮存在显著影响（P<0.05）。5）莲蓬壳的粗饲料分级指数（GI）值为0.69，属于第5级。基于本研究结果，莲蓬壳可以作为肉羊粗饲料进行利用，但其ADL含量较高，粗饲料GI值偏低，在肉羊饲粮中配比不宜超过40%；肉羊对莲蓬壳中营养物质的消化利用率受肉羊品种及其替代饲粮比例的影响较小；在饲喂相同营养水平饲粮条件下，努比亚山羊对饲粮中各营养物质的消化利用率优于湖羊和福清山羊。

In order to study the utilizability of lotus receptacle (LR) as feed for mutton sheep and goats, the common nutrient contents of LB were analyzed, and the in vivo digestion and metabolism tests for different mutton sheep and goat breeds were carried. A two-factor 3×4 randomized block design was used in the in vivo digestion and metabolism test, the first factor was mutton sheep and goats breed (Hu sheep, Nubia goats and Fuqing goats) and the second factor was substitution proportion of basal diet by LB (0, 20%, 40% and 60%). Twelve 7- to 8-months-old and healthy wethers of each mutton sheep and goat breed with similar body weight were selected and divided into 4 groups with 3 wethers per group and they were fed in a homemade digestion and metabolism cage alone. The diets in different groups were as follows: a basal diet (forage ∶ concentrate ratio was 3 ∶ 7) and three experimental diets (the basal diet was replaced by lotus receptacle at 20%, 40% and 60%). Nutrient apparent digestibility of four diets were measured by total collection of feces and urine. Then calculated nutrient apparent digestibility and effective energy values of LR in three experimental diets. The results showed as follows: 1) gross energy (GE), digestive energy (DE), metabolic energy (ME), and the contents of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ash (Ash), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) [dry matter (DM) basis] were 16.95 MJ/kg, 7.86 MJ/kg, 6.45 MJ/kg, 8.00%, 10.00 g/kg, 73.25%, 53.00%, 24.72%, 6.20%, 0.41% and 0.15%, respectively. 2) Mutton sheep and goats breed had extremely significant effects on the apparent digestibility of DM, GE and ADF of diets (P<0.01), and had significant effects on the apparent digestibility of OM and NDF of diets (P<0.05), the best digestive ability of nutrients of diet was found in Nubia goats. The substitution proportion of LR had extremely significant effects on the apparent digestibility of 6 common nutrients of diet (P<0.01), and the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, GE and NDF was decreased with the increase of the substitution proportion of LR. The interaction of 2 factors had no significant effects all nutrient apparent digestibility of diets (P>0.05). 3) Except for the substitution proportion of LR had extremely significant effects on the apparent digestibility of ADF of LR (P<0.01), and two factors and their interaction had no significant effects all nutrient apparent digestibility of LR (P>0.05). 4) Mutton sheep and goats breed had extremely significant effects on the fecal nitrogen, nitrogen retention, nitrogen retention rate and nitrogen biological value (P<0.01), and the nitrogen retention of Nubia goats was significantly higher than that of Hu sheep and Fuqing goats (P<0.05); the substitution proportion of LR had extremely significant effects on the fecal nitrogen, nitrogen retention, nitrogen retention rate (P<0.01), and had significant effects on the urine nitrogen and nitrogen biological value (P<0.05). nitrogen biological value in 20% substitution group was the highest, followed by 40% substitution group, both of which were significantly higher than that in 60% substitution group (P<0.05). The interaction of 2 factors had significant effects on urine nitrogen (P<0.05). 5) The forage grading index (GI) value of LR was 0.69, and it belonged to level 5. Based on the results of this study, LR can be used as the roughage of mutton sheep and goats. As the ADL content of LR is higher and forage GI value is lower, it should not be more than 40% in the diet of mutton sheep and goats. Mutton sheep and goats breed and the substitution proportion of LR have little effect on the digestibility and utilization rate of nutrients in LR. The digestibility and utilization rate of nutrients in diet for Nubia goat is better than Hu sheep and Fuqing goats when they are fed the same nutrient level diet.