Seephueak Wuttichai, Sangkaew Bunthum, Cherdthong Anusorn, Khonkhaeng Benjamad, Supapong Chanadol
Agricultural Science Division, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80240, Thailand.
Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 Jul 14;21(1):463. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04854-1.
Meat goat production in Thailand, particularly among smallholder farmers, is a sustainable enterprise with significant growth potential due to increasing livestock farming. However, the reliance on high-cost imported feed ingredients, such as soybean meal, poses economic challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Azolla microphylla as a cost-effective alternative protein source in goat diets, potentially replacing soybean meal to improve production efficiency. Conducted at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, the experiment involved 25 healthy crossbred Boer goats assigned to five treatment groups with varying levels of Azolla (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% replacing soybean meal) in a completely randomized design. Over 90 days, data on feed intake, weight gain, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fermentation characteristics were collected.
Results indicated a significant decrease in crude protein and nutrient digestibility with increased Azolla inclusion, particularly at higher replacement levels, while overall dry matter intake remained stable. Although ruminal pH and temperature were unaffected, ammonia nitrogen levels decreased, suggesting altered protein metabolism. Additionally, total volatile fatty acid concentrations peaked at the 25% Azolla level, indicating optimal fermentation efficiency.
These findings demonstrate that Azolla microphylla can effectively replace up to 50% of soybean meal in goat diets, offering a sustainable strategy to reduce production costs and enhance the efficiency of meat goat farming in southern Thailand. Further research is needed to optimize dietary formulations and improve the nutritional profile of Azolla to maximize its potential as an alternative feed ingredient.
由于畜牧业的发展，泰国的肉用山羊养殖，尤其是小农户的养殖，是一个具有显著增长潜力的可持续产业。然而，依赖高成本的进口饲料原料，如豆粕，带来了经济挑战。本研究旨在评估使用小叶满江红作为山羊日粮中具有成本效益的替代蛋白质来源的情况，有可能替代豆粕以提高生产效率。该实验在宋卡王子大学斯里维加亚理工学院进行，将25只健康的杂交波尔山羊分配到五个处理组，采用完全随机设计，各处理组的满江红水平不同（分别替代豆粕的0%、25%、50%、75%和100%）。在90天的时间里，收集了饲料摄入量、体重增加、养分消化率和瘤胃发酵特性的数据。
结果表明，随着满江红添加量的增加，粗蛋白和养分消化率显著下降，尤其是在较高替代水平时，而总体干物质摄入量保持稳定。虽然瘤胃pH值和温度未受影响，但氨氮水平下降，表明蛋白质代谢发生了变化。此外，总挥发性脂肪酸浓度在满江红水平为25%时达到峰值，表明发酵效率最佳。
这些发现表明，小叶满江红可以有效地替代山羊日粮中高达50%的豆粕，为降低泰国南部肉用山羊养殖的生产成本和提高养殖效率提供了一种可持续的策略。需要进一步研究以优化日粮配方并改善满江红的营养成分，以最大限度地发挥其作为替代饲料原料的潜力。
