Feed preference, body condition scoring, and growth performance of Dohne Merino ram fed varying levels of fossil shell flour

Abstract

Acceptability of a diet is one factor that determines an animal’s growth performance. Some feed additives in the category of dietary clay, including fossil shell flour (FSF), have been identified to enhance performance of livestock. Therefore, the influence of varying inclusion levels of FSF supplementation on feed acceptability, body condition scores, and growth performance of Dohne Merino sheep was evaluated. Twenty-four Dohne Merino rams were completely randomised and individually housed in pens for 90 days. Four different supplementation levels of FSF (0, 20, 40, and 60g/kg) were considered treatments for the rams. The average daily feed intake, body condition score, average daily weight gain (g), and coefficient of preference were significantly higher in rams supplemented with 60 g FSF/kg than the other treatments (P < 0.05). The experimental diet colour was brown for 0 g FSF/kg, while in 20, 40, and 60 g FSF/kg, it ranged from light brown to slightly deep brown. The texture of diets with 0 g FSF/kg was moderately firm, while diets with 20, 40, and 60 g FSF/kg had a firm texture. The order of preference of diets supplemented with FSF in feed intake by Dohne Merino rams was: 60 g FSF/kg > 40 g FSF/kg > 20 g FSF/kg > 0 g FSF/kg. Therefore, FSF at a minimum inclusion level of 40 g FSF/kg can improve feed intake, body condition score, and feeding behaviour of Dohne Merino rams by increasing the acceptability of the diet.

Knowledge Gaps on the Utilization of Fossil Shell Flour in Beef Production: A Review

“…The authors also reported an imbalance between calcium and other minerals in the diet, although there was a concomitant increase in the phosphorus content up to 1.5% inclusion of fossil shell powder, after which the phosphorus level dropped. The study by Ikusika [29,30] attributed the improved feeding behavior and/or acceptability of feed by rams to the rich Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, and Magnesium contents in FSF which improves the taste and aroma of the diets. The studies in Table 1 have, therefore, attributed the different effects of FSF on different animal parameters to its mineral content; however, there is no clear indication of the specific contribution of each element and which compound led to a specific result.…”

“…The physical and chemical properties of FSF enabled it to be acknowledged as a natural animal health and sustenance product. Previous research has indicated that the inclusion of FSF in animal diets did not adversely affect the lean mass percentage of animals [38], improved the average body weight gain of cockerels [27,28] and sheep [29,30], the growth rate of piglets [39], and the body condition scores of sheep [30]. Among these growth parameters influenced by FSF, the growth rate has an impact on carcass traits, muscle and fat deposition, and meat quality attributes and appears to be the main factor contributing to the chromatic qualities of beef [40].…”