Replacing sodium bicarbonate with half amount of calcareous marine algae in the diet of beef cattle

Abstract

Ruminants Full-length research article Replacing sodium bicarbonate with half amount of calcareous marine algae in the diet of beef cattle ABSTRACT-This study evaluated the effects of feeding calcareous marine algae or sodium bicarbonate as rumen buffer on the performance, behaviour, in vitro diet digestibility, and meat quality of beef cattle. A total of 180 Charolaise bullocks (536±38 kg; 14±1 months of age) were divided into two homogeneous groups and fed a diet with a mineral mix containing 40% sodium bicarbonate or 20% calcareous marine algae (CMA) for the entire fattening period (130 days). Of the in vivo and in vitro parameters evaluated, CMA supplementation improved average daily gain and feed conversion ratio and reduced the prevalence of bloat and lameness. Bullocks fed CMA tended to exhibit a calmer behaviour while in the pen. Supplementation with CMA improved rumen pH and in vitro digestion. Meat from bullocks fed CMA showed a lower pH and higher lightness and tenderness. The results suggest that CMA is more effective than sodium bicarbonate in buffering beef cattle, with a positive impact on growth performance, feed efficiency, health, and meat quality.

The use of visible/near-infrared spectroscopy to predict fibre fractions, fibre-bound nitrogen and total-tract apparent nutrients digestibility in beef cattle diets and faeces

“…The average chemical composition of the adaptation diet fed in this study was similar to the diet offered to Charolaise bulls described by other authors (Magrin et al 2018;Sgoifo Rossi et al 2019 and was in line with the NRC (2016) recommendation. The only exception was the aNDF content, which was higher compared to the literature but within the ranges recommended by the NRC (2016).…”

Review of Associated Health Benefits of Algal Supplementation in Cattle with Reference to Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex in Feedlot Systems

“…The use of algae may also assist with the industry demand of having a high quality and low-cost feed solution [ 67 ]. Within the Australian beef industry, studies have focused on how different algae species are improving outcomes such as daily weight gain, feed efficiency and animal product quality [ 68 , 69 ].…”

“…Due to increasing Australian consumer demand for high quality beef products there is considerable pressure on the industry to provide beef whilst also remaining cost effective [ 1 ]. Meat quality was assessed by Rossi, Compiani, Baldi, Taylor, Righi, Simoni and Quarantelli [ 69 ] through supplementing cattle with calcareous marine algae (CMA). The results showed that with the CMA supplementation the meat quality of the animal was significantly improved due to a reduced muscle pH, which as a result improves meat colour and tenderness which was tested using a shear force evaluation method ( Table 2 ).…”

“…The improvement in behaviour due to supplementation is not fully understood; however, it is suspected to be a result of the rumen buffering effect which ensures the rumen pH is at the optimum level between 6–7 [ 74 ]. This effect is shown by the desired increase in rumen pH to 6.25 ( p < 0.01) compared to the sodium bicarbonate supplemented rumen pH of 5.62 [ 69 ]. As a result the supplemented cattle experienced lower incidence of a rumen pH level below 5.2 which is the level where ruminal acidosis is said to occur [ 74 ].…”

“…When an animal is placed under stress there is a release of catecholamines (epinephrine and nor-epinephrine) decreasing the overall meat quality. Catecholamine release increases the muscle pH, affects meat colour, firmness and also decreases the meats tenderness [ 69 , 75 ]. As a result, algae supplementation has the potential to be used within the beef industry to improve meat product quality.…”