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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 50(6)

Effect of the concentration of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) algae in the drinking water on water intake by cattle and the proportion of algae bypassing the rumen

T. Panjaitan A , S. P. Quigley A , S. R. McLennan B and D. P. Poppi A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Schools of Animal Studies and Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

B Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Yeerongpilly, Qld 4105, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: d.poppi@uq.edu.au

Animal Production Science 50(6) 405-409 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09194
Submitted: 10 December 2009  Accepted: 29 March 2010   Published: 11 June 2010

Abstract

Spirulina, a freshwater microalgae, has previously been shown to increase the efficiency of microbial protein production in cattle fed hay with a low crude protein content. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of increasing the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water on the intake of water and the amount of water containing Spirulina bypassing the rumen of cattle. Five rumen-cannulated steers were given a fixed amount of pangola grass hay (14 g DM/kg W.day–1) and water containing 0, 1, 2, 2.7 and 3.5% (w/w) Spirulina in an incomplete Latin square design. Water intake by the control steers (0% Spirulina) was 29.7 and 49.3 g/kg W for the first drinking event after it was made available and over 24 h, respectively. For steers receiving the algae, intake of water plus Spirulina increased linearly (P < 0.01) from 42.7 to 60.2 g/kg W during the first drinking event, as the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water increased, but over 24 h was not affected by Spirulina concentration and averaged 74.4 g/kg W. The bypass of water through the rumen, as determined using chromium-EDTA as a marker, averaged 20.5 ± 1.2% and was not affected by the concentration of Spirulina in the drinking water. Increasing inclusion of Spirulina was associated with a decrease in rumen pH, an increase in urea concentration in blood serum, and an increase in ammonia-N concentration, propionate and branched-chain fatty acids, and a decrease in butyrate proportions in rumen fluid. Spirulina inclusion in the drinking water increased water intake and may provide a potential safe and inexpensive alternative to urea for extensively grazed ruminants.


Acknowledgements

The skilled technical assistance of P. Isherwood, A. Gibbon, L. Gardiner and M. Halliday is appreciated. We thank T. Swain for conducting the statistical analysis. This work was funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). T. Panjaitan was in receipt of a John Allwright Fellowship from ACIAR.


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