Influence of feeding different types of oligosaccharides on growth performance, digestibility and some blood parameters of fattening Egyptian buffalo steers

Abstract EN

A total of sixteen Egyptian male buffalo steers aged 28 months weighted 330.08±10.63kg were used in this trial to elucidate the impact of using three types of oligosaccharides (Mannan oligosaccharide (Bio-Mos® ), Esterified glucomannan (EGM-100® ) and Galacto oligosaccharides (GOS® ) on growth, feed conversion, digestibility coefficients, economic efficiency and some blood parameters.

At the beginning of the experiment, animals were randomly allotted into four equal groups (4animals each) according to average body weight.

Treated animals in the control group (CO) were fed on the control diet without oligosaccharides, while those in MOS, EGM and GOS groups were fed on diets containing 0.1 % of each type of oligosaccharides (1 g/kg diet) for 120 days feeding period.

Four digestibility trials were carried out to determine nutrients digestibility and nutritive values of experimental diets.

Results revealed that digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CF and NFE tended to increase significantly by feeding buffalo steers on MOS and EGM diets compared with those of control group.

Likewise, there were significant differences (P≤0.05) in CP and EE digestibility among groups treated with MOS and EGM than control group.

The present results showed a significant (P≤0.01) increase of nutritive values as TDN and ME for MOS and EGM diets compared with control.

Feeding male buffalo on treated diets increased (P≤0.05) the nutritive value as DCP compared with untreated ones.

Live body weight was significantly (P≤0.05) increased as well as ADG and TG were improved (P≤0.01) in treated trials.

There was no significant increase in daily dry matter (DMI), total digestible nutrient intake (TDNI), digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and metabolizable energy (ME) due to oligosaccharide supplementation.

Feeding male buffaloes on MOS and EGM decreased (P≤0.01) feed conversion of DM and TDN compared with control group.

Total feed coast (LE/kg gain) was decreased due to feeding MOS and EGM supplemented diets.

Feeding MOS and EGM increased (P≤0.05) total protein and globulin levels of blood serum which might indicate improvement of immune status of treated animals.

Means of alanine transaminase (AST) and aspartate transaminase (ALT) enzymes did not differ significantly among treatments.

Blood serum total lipids were reduced (P≥0.05), while total cholesterol concentration was (P≤0.05) lower in blood serum of treated groups than control and the lowest values were recorded for GOS group.

It was concluded that prebiotics supplementation (such as oligosaccharides) in the diet of fatting male Egyptian buffaloes resulted in significant improvement in productive performance and digestibility coefficients without any harmful effect on animals health.