Influence of spirulina supplementation on growth performance, puberty traits, blood metabolites, testosterone concentrations, and semen quality in Barki male lambs
Mohamed Mohsen Mansour, Moustafa M. Zeitoun
Abstract
Background: The fertility and genetic value of the flock can be enhanced by selecting lambs with highly developed early puberty characteristics. Spirulina (SP) has been evaluated as a natural product supplement to boost lamb growth, immunity, and productivity. Aim: Study growth performance, blood metabolites, puberty development traits, semen quality, and seminal plasma biochemical concentrations of growing Barki lambs when supplemented with SP at different levels. Methods: in a 24 weeks study, 30 Barki male lambs weighing an average of 21.78 ± 2.56 kg, with a body condition score of 3.20 ± 0.55 and an age of about 16 ± 0.24 weeks were used. The lambs were randomly assigned to three groups (10 lambs each) of daily SP supplementation levels per lamb of 0 ml (control), 50 ml (SP1), and 100 ml (SP2). The SP powder was made into a water suspension using SP to water ratio of 1 g:10 ml. The growth characteristics, as well as the development of puberty, blood metabolites, and semen quality analysis of every lamb, were measured. Results: < 0.05) in the SP-treated lambs. Additionally, the SP2 lambs produced better semen quality than the control lambs. Conclusion: SP supplementation (100 ml/head/day) enhanced growth performance, feed efficiency, and antioxidative status, exerting a positive influence on the physiological parameters and sexual behavioral patterns at puberty in Barki lambs.