Mangimi alternativi nei ruminanti: l'alga spirulina aggiunta nella dieta bovina

In the coming years there will be an increase in the global demand for products of animal origin, due to the increase in the population and the change in lifestyles in emerging countries. The environmental sustainability of farms is a broad and extremely topical issue, also in light of the evolution of EU policies (Green Deal, Farm to fork strategy) The thesis focuses on the use of alternative feeds, specifically spirulina algae as a supplement in the diet of ruminants. In addition to examining various articles regarding the addition of this single-celled organism to the diet, to understand whether or not it affects the performance of farm animals, we also tried to evaluate the effect on the environmental impact and the prospects for use. Spirulina algae is a unicellular protein, specifically a microalgae. This can use a large variety of raw materials and wastes as sources of carbon, nutrients and energy for its own growth and biomass production. Microalgae are the foundation of the food chain since they produce about 50% of the oxygen of the planet Earth and their presence positively influences the fertility of the land. In addition to what has been reported above, the current legislation governing the production of alternative feeds has also been commented on. Based on the chemical composition, Spirulina represents a valid alternative both economically and ecologically sustainable. It has numerous biologically active substances, for example it speeds up the digestive process by promoting a better supply of nutrients, so there are real prospects for use in the diet of farm animals.