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Nutritional and health supplements in molasses blocks delivers increased rumen efficiency in smallholder large ruminant production in developing countries
Windsor, P., Olmo, L., Calvani, N...
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Objectives
Summarize field studies examining the four different molasses-block supplements (consumed @ 100- 150g/day) provided to large ruminants, for improved health and production outcomes, in a developing country context. Trials were conducted in Laos, where productivity is compromised by low growth rates, endemic adult and calf endoparasitism by Fasciola gigantica or Toxocara vitulorum respectively, with limited farmer knowledge and facilities for administration of therapeutics. Further, discuss a marketing feasibility study of this supplementation strategy and consider the environmental impacts of improving rumen efficiency through this technology.
Materials and methods
Field trials were implemented in villages in mainly the dry season in Laos from 2017-2019, studying the impacts of ad-libitum supplementation with high quality molasses blocks (20kg) (4 Seasons Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia), containing: non-medicated (NMMB); urea-medicated (UMB8; @ 8% urea); triclabendazole-medicated (Fasinex®, Novartis Australia, TMB5 @ 5g/kg, and TMB10 @ 10g/kg); fenbendazole-medicated (Panacur100®, Coopers Australia; FMB5; @ 5g/kg). Animal cohorts were enrolled into one of three groups: (i) access to either UMB8, TMB5 or TMB10, or FMB5 medicated molasses blocks; (ii) access to NMMB; and where possible (iii) control groups without access to blocks. To serve as positive controls, additional cohorts were treated with oral anthelmintics. This included two FMB5 trials where oral pyrantel was administered at 2-3wks of age, plus use of oral triclabendazole in TBZ5 and TBZ10 trials. Weight data and faecal samples were obtained at weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12 for growth rates (average daily gain; ADG = grams/day) and faecal egg counts (FEC). Where data from cohorts not receiving blocks was unavailable, the results were compared with recently acquired baseline ADG data.
Results
Baseline measurements obtained from studies of the free grazing systems in Laos, confirmed low mean weights (182–204kg in cattle; 325–357kg in buffalo) and low ADG’s (55–84g in cattle; 92–106g in buffalo), with animals likely to lose weight during the dry season due to feed deficiency. Trials with UMMB and UMB8 compared the weight gains of lactating cows (n = 46), calves (n = 25) and growing calves (n = 35) of famers (n = 20), with access to both blocks significantly increasing ADG in all 3 cohorts compared to baseline grazing-only data. The supplemented lactating cows (191g, 179g), calves (298g, 238g), and growing cattle (214g, 143g) all performed well respectively, but less than in a pen study conducted at a research station near Vientiane where UMMB-fed bulls achieved a superior ADG (320g). The initial triclabendazole trial (n=241) examined Fasciola spp. suppression over a 12 week period of access to TBM5 blocks, reducing FEC (~90%) and increasing ADG (201g) that was superior to the reduction in FEC (~19%), and ADG (124g) of those with NMMB access (P=001). A 2019 trial with TMB10 observed rapid elimination of the FEC following exposure to this block; these were replaced with NMMB for the remaining 10wks. In the fenbendazole trials, the FMB5 treatment produced rapid reduction in FEC relative to the control (P=0.062) and a high ADG (230g), exceeding that of control calves (170g) (P=0.002). Additional trials corroborated that FMB5 access was associated with higher predicted ADG (200g) compared to control calves (150g) (P=0.005). All farming families experiencing use of the blocks confirmed their animals were healthier with minimal parasites, they were easier to manage, plus they wished to purchase the blocks. Registration of molasses supplementation blocks in Laos has now occurred and sales of commercial blocks have commenced.
Conclusions
Provision of block supplements to large ruminants in Laos, especially lactating cows, enabled animals to maintain and even increase weight during the dry season when lactation occurs. Block supplementation also enabled efficient administration of endoparasite medication to large ruminants. Improved utilisation of low-quality forage and control of endemic parasitism, offers important opportunities for increasing large ruminant production efficiency. There is an emerging challenge to food security in providing more sustainable livestock systems in a climate emergency world. Significant improvements in cattle production efficiency means fewer animals required with shorter time periods necessary to achieve marketable levels of beef; one of several strategies that may help mitigate the impacts of beef production on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
Keywords: Molasses-blocks, supplementation, anthemintics, cattle, buffalo
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