Locusta migratoria extruded meal in young steers diet: evaluation of growth performance, blood indices and meat traits of Calves Kasakh white-headed breed

ABSTRACT

The article presented the data that confirm the efficiency of the extruded Locusta migratoria (ELM) meal used in feeding steers. The experiment was based on collecting locust, feeding steers and calculation of economic efficiency. One hundred steers of Kasakh white-headed breed were equally divided to 2 treatment groups, and fed either a basal ration (BR, Control group), or a ration containing complete feed supplemented with ELM at 10% (Test group). In the population under study, the live weight dynamics was observed, and the physiological state and haematological status were controlled. The steers’ meat productivity and meat quality were studied on the results of the control slaughter. Partial replacement of the feed with locust reduced the feed costs and contributed to an increase in profits per animal in Test group compared to the control animals, as well as in the beef production profitability.

KEYWORDS:

• Animal welfare
• beef
• cattle breeding
• insects
• profitability

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for the financial support in the implementation of this research according to the state assignment of NIIMMP.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Animal welfare statement

The authors confirm that they have followed EU standards for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and feed legislation.

Experiments were performed in accordance with the Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals (Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals et al. 2011). And the use of experimental animals completely observed the local animal welfare laws and policies. The authors confirm that the cattle owner (Maksim Vyacheslavovich Shkarupin, Managing Director of OJSC Shurupovskoye) provided written consent for the use of his animals in this study.

Author contributions

Study conception and design was done by IFG, MIS, and NIM; Methodology was done by YuVS; Measurements and Acquisition was done by VSG, AAM, and EYuB; Analysis of data was done by EYuA and SAB; and Interpretation of data and drafting of manuscript was done by IFG, EYuA, and PSAC.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.