Article (Scientific journals)
Microalgae supplementation improves goat milk composition and fatty acid profile: a meta-analysis and meta-regression
Boukrouh, Soumaya; Mnaouer, Ihssane; de Souza, Poliana Mendes et al.
2025In Archiv für Tierzucht, 68 (1), p. 223 - 238
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
Boukrouh-algae.pdf
Publisher postprint (1.51 MB) Creative Commons License - Attribution
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
Agronomy and Crop Science; Genetics; Plant Science
Abstract :
[en] Recently, there has been an emphasis on research on sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Microalgae are a promising feed that is rich in essential nutrients, and research has been oriented toward their incorporation into ruminant diets. This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of microalgae in goat diets using a meta-analysis methodology. The data were acquired from 17 peer-reviewed scientific papers. The raw mean difference between the treatment diets supplemented with microalgae and the control diets was evaluated using the random-effects model. Experimental characteristics such as animal breed, days in milk, experimental duration, microalgae species, inclusion levels, and concentrate were used as covariates in meta-regression and subgrouping analyses. Microalgae supplementation did not affect dry matter intake (DMI, p = 0.170) but significantly improved the intake of crude protein (CP, p<0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF, p = 0.005). The incorporation of microalgae into the goat diet improved all digestibility parameters (p<0.01), with an improvement in fermentation parameters, including ruminal pH (p = 0.010) and propionate (p<0.001). Microalgae inclusion in goat diets increased blood glucose levels (p<0.001) but did not affect blood antioxidant activity (p>0.05). Microalgae supplementation did not affect milk yield (p = 0.480) but increased the yield of lactose (p<0.001), protein (p<0.001), and fat (p<0.001). Microalgae inclusion in goat diets improves the fatty acid (FA) profile. The milk of goats had significantly decreased C18:0 (p = 0.001) and C18:1 n-9 (p = 0.028) and increased C20:5 n-3 (p = 0.027), C22:6 n-3 (DHA, p<0.001), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA, p = 0.039), and n-3 (p = 0.006). Subgroup analysis showed that an inclusion level higher than 30 g per kg DM was advisable to obtain this total improvement. However, even a moderate inclusion level (15–30 g per kg DM) improved the FA profile. The microalgae species Schizochytrium sp. and the Alpine–Greek crossbreed goat breed were covariates that showed interesting results concerning the improvement of DHA and PUFA. In addition, supplementation of goat diets with microalgae could be used as a nutritional approach to enhance milk production and quality.
Research Center/Unit :
FARAH. Productions animales durables - ULiège
Disciplines :
Animal production & animal husbandry
Author, co-author :
Boukrouh, Soumaya  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) ; African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco
Mnaouer, Ihssane;  African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco
de Souza, Poliana Mendes;  African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco
Hornick, Jean-Luc  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA)
Nilahyane, Abdelaziz;  African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco
Amiri, Bouchra El;  African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco ; Animal Production Unit, Regional Center Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Rabat, Morocco
Hirich, Abdelaziz;  African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco
Language :
English
Title :
Microalgae supplementation improves goat milk composition and fatty acid profile: a meta-analysis and meta-regression
Publication date :
26 March 2025
Journal title :
Archiv für Tierzucht
ISSN :
0003-9438
eISSN :
2363-9822
Publisher :
Copernicus Publications
Volume :
68
Issue :
1
Pages :
223 - 238
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Development Goals :
3. Good health and well-being
12. Responsible consumption and production
Funding text :
Acknowledgements. The authors express their gratitude to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) for providing financial support for this research. Financial support. This research was supported by Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).
Available on ORBi :
since 28 February 2026

Statistics


Number of views
42 (0 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
12 (0 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
17
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
13
OpenCitations
 
7
OpenAlex citations
 
19

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi