Effect of Spirulina platensis Microalga Additive on Performance of Growing Friesian Calves
Riad, W., Elsadany, A., EL-diahy, Y. (2019). Effect of Spirulina platensis Microalga Additive on Performance of Growing Friesian Calves. EKB Journal Management System, 10(2), 35-40. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40308
W. A. Riad; A. Y. Elsadany; Y. M. EL-diahy. "Effect of Spirulina platensis Microalga Additive on Performance of Growing Friesian Calves". EKB Journal Management System, 10, 2, 2019, 35-40. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40308
Riad, W., Elsadany, A., EL-diahy, Y. (2019). 'Effect of Spirulina platensis Microalga Additive on Performance of Growing Friesian Calves', EKB Journal Management System, 10(2), pp. 35-40. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40308
Riad, W., Elsadany, A., EL-diahy, Y. Effect of Spirulina platensis Microalga Additive on Performance of Growing Friesian Calves. EKB Journal Management System, 2019; 10(2): 35-40. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40308

Effect of Spirulina platensis Microalga Additive on Performance of Growing Friesian Calves

Journal of Animal and Poultry Production
Article 2, Volume 10, Issue 2, February 2019, Page 35-40  XML PDF (256.79 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2019.40308
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Authors
W. A. Riad1; A. Y. Elsadany2; Y. M. EL-diahy1
1Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
2Cyanobacteria Lab., Microbiology Dept., Soils, Water, and Environment Research Institute, Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Egypt
Abstract
The current work  was done to study  the impact of supplementation  Spirulina platensis alage into the rations of growing Friesian calves on feed intake, rumen fermentation activity,  digestibility, growth performance and economic efficiency. Eighteen  Friesian calves aged 12 months with initial live body weight of 219.06 ± 5.35 kg were  divided into three  groups for 150 days feeding trial. Calves were individually fed a basal ration composed of 50% concentrate feed mixture (CFM) + 30% corn silage (CS) + 20% rice straw (RS) on dry matter basis without supplementation (control, R1) or with 1 g (R2) and 2 g (R3) dry Spirulina alage/ head/ day. Results showed that calves fed R3 recorded significantly (P<0.05) the highest nutrients digestibility and feeding values compared with  R2 and the control one (R1). Intake of total dry matter (DM), digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were nearly similar for the different groups. The concentration TVFA’s was significantly higher, while pH values and NH3-N concentration were significantly lower (P<0.05) in rumen liquor with the two Spirulina rations compared with the control one. Total protein concentration in plasma increased significantly (P<0.05) with Spirulina rations compared with the control one, while the rest of blood metabolities did not affected by the dietary treatments. Final live body weight, total and daily weight gain, as well as the improvement of daily gains were significantly higher (P<0.05) for the high level of dry Spirulina compared with the low level of  dry Spirulina and also the control one. Feed conversion as DM, TDN and DCP required for producing one kg weight gain were lower significantly (P<0.05) for calves with  Spirulina rations compared with those of control. Average feeding cost was nearly similar for the different groups. Whereas, feed cost  per one kg live weight gain was significantly lower (P<0.05) for the two Spirulina rations than that of the control one. As well as, total revenue of body weight gain and net revenue as well as economic efficiency were significantly higher (P<0.05) for calves  fed Spirulina rations than those of control ration.
Keywords
Friesian calves; Spirulina; rumen activity; plasma biochemical; feed conversion; economic efficiency
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