Growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed halophytes as a partial or whole replacement of berseem hay

Cultivation and characterisation of Salicornia europaea, Tripolium pannonicum and Crithmum maritimum biomass for green biorefinery applications

Salt-tolerant halophytes have shown potential for biorefinery and agricultural use in salt-affected soils, increasing the value of marginal lands. They could provide a bio-based source for compounds obtained from the petrochemical industry or an alternative for biomass currently imported overseas. Salicornia europaea, Tripolium pannonicum and Crithmum maritimum were cultivated in hydroponic systems under various salinity conditions, harvested green but not food-grade, and fractionated to green juice and fibre residue. Obtained fractions were characterised for contents of carbohydrates, Klason lignin, crude protein, organic acids, lipids, and minerals to evaluate the biomass' suitability for biorefinery. Significant differences were observed in the biomass yield and the composition of the biomass fractions from different cultivation salinities. High concentrations of crude protein were found. Thus, these species could have the potential for green protein production. Fractions rich in carbohydrates could be used for lignocellulose processing and processes utilising micro-organisms.

Nutritive value of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as a feed for ruminants: in sacco degradability and in vitro gas production

Replacement of conventional feedstuffs with inexpensive and non-conventional ingredients such as quinoa may improve animal performance and the quality of their products. Quinoa supplementation is believed to have a good nutritive value as a ruminant feed, but evidence is scarce. The present experiment aimed to evaluate the nutritive value of whole, dried quinoa plant (Chenopodium quinoa) as a feed for ruminants. In the first experiment, the in sacco technique was used to evaluate nutrient disappearance and fermentation kinetics of quinoa. In the second experiment, the in vitro gas production technique was used to evaluate diets with substitution of clover hay with quinoa at 0 (Q0), 15 (Q15), 30 (Q30), and 45% (Q45) of the diets. Proximate analysis showed that quinoa contained about 18.6% crude protein (CP) with oleic acid, arachic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid as the major fatty acids. The in sacco degradability showed that the "a" fraction of dry matter (DM) was low, while the fraction "b" was high for DM and CP. Replacing clover hay with quinoa did not affect gas or methane production; however, Q30 treatment quadratically increased (P < 0.05) its production. It is concluded that quinoa can be used as a feed for ruminants and can replace clover hay up to 45% in the diet.

Effect of heat-treated green tea waste feeding on fermentation kinetics, in vitro degradability, in vivo apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and blood metabolites in Black Bengal goat

The study was conducted to examine the effect of heat treatment of green tea waste (GTW) on rumen degradability, apparent digestibility, and plasma metabolites in Black Bengal goat based on in vitro and in vivo studies. The in vitro incubation was performed with autoclaved, oven, and freeze-dried GTW, whereas animal study was conducted using 12 Black-Bengal goats in a 3 × 3 Latin-square design. Goats were fed a total-mixed-ration without (control) or with the partial replacement of soybean meal and barley with 50 g/kg dry matter (DM) of either oven-dried or autoclaved GTW. Heat treatments reduced ether extract and tannins concentration but increased the effective DM and crude protein (CP) degradability of GTW. The highest values of in vitro volatile fatty acid concentration, molar proportion of propionate, ammonia-nitrogen concentration, and cumulative gas production were observed for oven-dried GTW among the tested GTW. Dietary treatment did not alter the DM intake, but apparent CP digestibility and retained nitrogen (N) were increased in goats fed control or oven-dried GTW incorporated diets. Feeding autoclaved GTW diet increased the urinary and fecal N excretion in goats. In contrast, plasma glucose concentration was highest in goats fed control or oven-dried GTW diet. In conclusion, oven drying could be a practical approach to increase protein digestibility and retained N in goats.

Enhancing the Utilization of Palm Leaf Hay Using Bacillus subtilis and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in the Diet of Lambs Under Desert Conditions

The efficiency of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis and white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium on growth performance, blood metabolites, carcass characteristics, meat composition and nutrient digestibility of lambs fed crushed whole palm leaf hay was investigated for 105 d. In Experiment 1 (Growth experiment), twenty-four lambs (29.5 ± 1.25 kg) were divided into four feed-based treatments: (1) concentrate and wheat straw ad libitum (control), (2) palm leaf hay (DPL), (3) palm leaf hay supplemented with 2 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL2) or (4) palm leaf hay supplemented with 4 g of B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium (DPL4). In Experiment 2 (Digestibility experiment), twelve rams, three from each treatment, were used to study nutrient digestibility using the faecal bag technique. Results of the Experiment 1 showed that the DPL4 showed greater (P=0.049) live-weight gain than the control. The diets containing palm leaf hay showed lower (P=0.001) roughage and total feed intake and higher (P=0.001) feed efficiency than the control. Increased serum total protein, globulin, urea-N, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were observed with the DPL4 (P˂0.05). Additionally, diets containing palm leaf hay showed higher ALT levels than the control. The DPL4 increased the hot carcass weight (P=0.006) and dressing percentage (P=0.036), and the diets supplemented with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium decreased (P˂0.05) the tail fat and all fat levels compared with the DPL treatment. Results of the Experiment 2 showed that nutrient digestibility was lower (P˂0.05) with the DPL and DPL2 than with the control and DPL4. Compared with the control, nutrient digestibility of DPL4 was not affected. It is concluded that replacement of wheat straw with palm leaf hay did not affect the feed utilization or animal performance of the lambs; however, supplementation with B. subtilis and P. chrysosporium at 4 g/lamb daily enhanced the growth performance, and carcass characteristics without any adverse effects on blood metabolites.

Effects of microbial feed additives on feed utilization and growth performance in growing Barki lambs fed diet based on peanut hay

The effects of supplementing diet of growing lambs with microbial feed additive mixture (direct-fed microbial; DFM) based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lactic acid bacteria and exogenous enzymes on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) utilization, ruminal fermentation, blood chemistry and growth performance were studied. The study was a completely randomized design with 12 growing Barki lambs divided into two groups of six lambs per treatment. Lambs were offered a control diet of peanut hay and concentrates (1:1 dry matter (DM) basis) or the control diet supplemented with DFM at 0.5 g/day (Bactozyme treatment) for 16 weeks. There was no effect on feed efficiency but Bactozyme lambs had increased (p = 0.009) feed intake, average daily gain (p = 0.042) and final body weight (p = 0.047). Bactozyme treatment had greater neutral detergent fiber (p = 0.020) and acid detergent fiber (p = 0.034) digestibility compared with the control treatment. Metabolism experiment showed that the feed additive mixture increased (p<0.05) N intake and N retention. Bactozyme treatment had greater blood total protein (p = 0.027), and globulin (p = 0.025) concentrations compared with the control treatment. It is concluded that supplementing growing Barki lambs with DFM at 0.5 g daily enhanced final body weight gain and fiber digestion without affecting feed efficiency.

Effect of replacing concentrate feed with leaves of Oldman saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) on feed intake, weight gain, and carcass parameters of highland sheep fed on wheat straw in northern Ethiopia

Atriplex nummularia (oldman saltbush) is widely planted on salt-affected land to provide a vegetative cover, which can be used as an alternative feed resource. The study was conducted to evaluate the replacement of commercial concentrate with oldman saltbush (SB) leaf on the feed intake, live weight gain, and carcass parameters of local sheep. Twenty-five sheep with an age of 6 months and weighting 14.60 ± 2.47 kg were used in randomized complete block design and distributed into five equal groups, with five animals each. The selected sheep were fed with the dietary treatments for 2 weeks for adaptation and continued until the end of the study, which lasted for 90 days. In the control treatment (SB-0), sheep were fed 100% concentrate mix, while in SB-5, SB-10, SB-15, and SB-20, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of the concentrate mix was replaced by SB, respectively. Wheat straw and water were given at ad libitum throughout the experiment period. Data on feed intake and live weight gain were recorded daily and weekly, respectively, for 90 days. Three animals from each treatment were slaughtered for carcass analysis. Atriplex nummularia leaf (Oldman saltbush) contained 92.02% dry matter (DM), 21.99% crude protein (CP), 24.77% ash, 58.27% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 26.56% acid detergent fiber (ADF). Dry matter intake, live weight gain, and carcass parameter were not statistically different among the treatments. Result indicated that concentrate feed can be replaced with Atriplex nummularia leaf up to 20% in sheep diet without negative effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics.

An assessment of sire-breed effects on carcass and meat quality traits of lambs at the ages of 40 and 100 days from Comisana ewes crossed with Suffolk or Bergamasca rams

The aim was to compare lambs at two different ages at slaughter (40 vs 100 days) and three breeds or crossbreeds including an Italian dairy breed (Comisana (Com)) and its crosses with the two meat breeds of Bergamasca (Ber × Com) and Suffolk (Suf × Com) with 20 male lambs per age per breed group. At both slaughter ages, crossbreeds were more productive, with higher liveweight (P = 0.02), carcass weight (P = 0.03) and dressing percentage (P = 0.04) than the Com group. Meat from the younger lambs showed lower C10:0, C14:0 and C22:0 (P < 0.05) and higher C18:1 (P < 0.01) concentrations, resulting in higher monounsaturated fatty acid (P < 0.01) and lower saturated fatty acid (P < 0.01) content. Moreover, their meat has lower redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and chroma (C*) values (P < 0.01). Crossbreeding dairy breed ewes with sires of high meat production breeds improves liveweight and carcass weight. Meat from younger lambs had lower intramuscular fat content and higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Effects of replacement of Moringa oleifera for berseem clover in the diets of Nubian goats on feed utilisation, and milk yield, composition and fatty acid profile

Replacement of conventional feedstuffs with cheap non-conventional ingredients may improve livestock performance and the quality of their products, particularly milk. The study considered the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) foliage in replacement of berseem clover (BC) on feed utilisation and lactational performance in Nubian goats. A total of 16 lactating Nubian does, weighing 36.2±0.8 kg, were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments containing 0, 125, 250 and 375 g of MO per kg diet to replace 0 (M0), 25 (M25), 50 (M50) and 75% (M75) of BC (on dry matter (DM) basis) in a quadruplicated 4×4 Latin square design. The MO diets increased (P<0.01) feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Feeding MO diets improved (P<0.01) ruminal volatile fatty acids, acetate and propionate but reduced (P<0.01) valerate and iso-butyrate. Moringa diets increased (P<0.01) serum total protein, albumin and glucose but decreased (P<0.05) cholesterol and triglycerides. Milk yield and energy corrected milk, and milk total solids, fat and energy content were increased (P<0.01) in MO diets. Yields of milk components and energy were greater (P<0.05) for MO diets than for control diet. Milk total saturated fatty acids and athrogenicity index were lower (P<0.01), and unsaturated fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids and UFA/SFA ratio higher (P<0.05) for MO diets. It is concluded that feeding MO to replace 75% DM of BC improved feed utilisation, ruminal fermentation, and milk yield and quality in lactating Nubian goats.

Digestion, growth performance and caecal fermentation in growing rabbits fed diets containing foliage of browse trees

<p>This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding dried foliage (leaves and petioles) of <em>Acacia saligna</em>, <em>Leucaena leucocephala</em> or <em>Moringa oleifera</em> on the performance, digestibility, N utilisation, caecal fermentation and microbial profiles in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. One hundred weaned male NZW rabbits weighing 819.2±16.6 g and aged 35±1 d were randomly allocated into 4 groups of 25 rabbits each. Rabbits were fed on pelleted diets containing 70% concentrate mixture and 30% Egyptian berseem (<em>Trifolium alexandrinum</em>) hay (Control diet) or one of the other 3 experimental diets, where 50% of berseem hay was replaced with <em>A. saligna</em> (AS), <em>L. leucocephala</em> (LL) or <em>M. oleifera</em> (MO). Compared to Control diet, decreases in dry matter (DM; <em>P</em>=0.004), organic matter (<em>P</em>=0.028), crude protein (CP; <em>P</em>=0.001), neutral detergent fibre (<em>P</em>=0.033) and acid detergent fibre (<em>P</em>=0.011) digestibility were observed with the AS diet. However, DM and CP digestibility were increased by 3% with the MO diet, and N utilisation was decreased (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) with AS. Rabbits fed AS and LL diets showed decreased (<em>P</em>=0.001) average daily gain by 39 and 7%, respectively vs. Control. Feed conversion was similar in Control and MO rabbits, whereas rabbits fed AS diet ate up to 45% more feed (<em>P</em>=0.002) than Control rabbits to gain one kg of body weight. Caecal ammonia-N was increased (<em>P</em>=0.002) with LL, while acetic acid was decreased (<em>P</em>=0.001) with AS diet vs. other treatments. Caecal <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Lactobacillus</em> spp. bacteria counts were decreased with MO by about 44 and 51%, respectively, vs. Control. In conclusion, under the study conditions, tree foliage from <em>M. oleifera</em> and <em>L. leucocephala</em> are suitable fibrous ingredients to be included up to 150 g/kg in the diets of growing rabbits, and can safely replace 50% of berseem hay in diets of NZW rabbits without any adverse effect on their growth performance. Foliage from <em>M. oleifera </em>had a better potential as a feed for rabbits than that from <em>L. leucocephala</em>. Although foliage from <em>A. saliga </em>may be also used at 150 g/kg in the diets of growing rabbits, this level of inclusion may result in reduced feed digestibility and growth performance.</p>

Nutritional evaluation of ammoniated ensiled threshed sorghum top as a feed for goats

Eighteen intact Red Sokoto male goats (15.4 ± 0.68 kg BW) were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the inclusion of urea-treated ensiled threshed sorghum top (UTST) in their diets. The inclusion rates of UTST were 0, 350 and 700 g/kg, replacing dried brewers' grains (DBG) by 0 (control) 50 and 100%, respectively. Intakes of dry matter, organic matter, total carbohydrate, hemicellulose, digestible nutrients and energy, nutrient digestibility, digestible organic matter fermented in the rumen, digestible organic matter, digestible energy/digestible crude protein (DCP) ratio, microbial protein synthesis, nitrogen retention and weight gain were lower (P < 0.05; 0.01) in 700 g/kg UTST than in 0 and 350 g/kg UTST. Intakes of crude protein, non-fibre carbohydrates and DCP, nitrogen balance and volatile fatty acid decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing level of UTST in the diets, but ruminal pH, NH3-N and total nitrogen increased (P < 0.01) with increasing rate of UTST. Feed/gain ratio and urinary nitrogen were higher (P < 0.01) for 700 g/kg UTST compared to 0 and 350 g/kg UTST. A dietary inclusion level of 350 g/kg UTST (replacing 50% of DBG) in the diet was the most suitable level for goats under the current experimental conditions.