Use of Seagrasses as Natural Forage Source for Small Ruminants: The Example of the Marine Plant Posidonia oceanica

Abstract

The search for new sources of food that contribute to the optimization of livestock production is urgently needed, especially in the Spanish SE where rainfall is increasingly scarce and land degradation makes grazing of small ruminants difficult. This work provides in vivo and in vitro data on the nutritional composition, digestibility, inputs in sheep and goats.

Seagrass Debris as Source of Fiber and Bioactive Compounds in Feed for Dairy Goats

“…Indeed, it appears incorporation of this seagrass as an alternative fiber source to oat hay improved goat mammary health status. Similar findings were reported by Castillo et al (2015Castillo et al ( , 2019 who observed significant decreases in SCC in Murciano-Granadina goats fed P. oceanica. These authors explained this phenomenon by the high content of secondary metabolites in P. oceanica, mainly phenolic compounds and flavonoids, known for their defensive and antioxidant properties, which can significantly reduce the occurrence of udder infections.…”

“…According to Eldik et al (2017), complete substitution of barley straw by P. oceanica showed no significant effect on milk production in Murciano-Granadina goats. Similar results were reported by Castillo et al ( , 2019, demonstrating that Murciano-Granadina goats can be fed dried P. oceanica as a source of fiber at levels up to 450 g/d without affecting milk production. Using P. oceanica as partial or total substitute for oat hay significantly improved fat content in goat's milk.…”

“…Using P. oceanica as partial or total substitute for oat hay significantly improved fat content in goat's milk. Similar results were reported by Castillo et al (2015Castillo et al ( , 2019 where higher levels of fat were observed in the milk of Murciano-Granadina goats that were fed diets containing 50 and 100% P. oceanica compared to the control lot receiving only barley straw as a source of fiber. They attributed the increased fat content in milk to high levels of flavonoids characterizing the sea grass P. oceanica, which did not only improve milk fat quantity but also its quality.…”

“…Therefore, this milk might have an added value as a source of antioxidants for human nutrition. These results are confirmed by Castillo et al (2019) who attributed milk's high level of antioxidant agents to P. oceanica's wealth of these elements, secreted in the milk of animals that consumed this marine plant and gave it a very high dietary added value. Hilario et al (2010) proved that goats fed polyphenol-rich pasture grass, had a significant increase in bioactive polyphenolic compounds in their milk.…”

“…Similar results were reported by Castillo et al (2015), who that the substitution of barley straw by P. oceanica did not show any significant effects on Murciano-Granadina goats' body weight. Similarly, Castillo et al (2019) mentioned that dry residues of P. oceanica could be used as a source of fiber in animal feed without affecting production or health status. Torbatinejad and Sherlock (2008) stated that P. australis mixed with alfalfa can compete with straw in terms of sheep weight gain.…”