Abstract
A total of 480 Arbor Acres Broiler chicks (mixed sex) from 1 to 35 days of age were divided randomly into 4 treatments to evaluate the impact of defatted Scenedesmus obliquus biomass (DAB) on broiler performance. The DAB was supplemented to broiler diets with levels of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00% from one-day-old to 35 days of age. The DAB samples were analyzed in triplicates. The productive traits were measured weekly and the biochemical indices at the end of the trial. Data was statistically analyzed by One-way ANOVA. It was found that slaughter body weight, body weight gain and average daily feed intake were increased in birds fed diets supplemented with DAB compared to the control ones. However, feed conversion ratio was not affected by any of the treatments. Broilers’ serum enzymes activities and markers indicated that liver function as indicated by aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) and kidney’s function which indicated by serum creatine and urea were not affected by DAB supplementation. Furthermore, protein, glucose and cholesterol levels in broiler’s serum were in normal levels and not affected by treatments. No significant changes were observed in relative organ weights (spleen, bursa, liver, gizzard, proventriculus and heart) or intestine length of broilers at 35 days of age in response to DAB supplementation in their diets. It could be concluded that DAB supplementation to broiler diets from 1 to 35 days of age up to 1% had no negative impacts and might have had a positive effect on broiler performance at 35 days of age.
Highlights
The use of algae as a source of biofuels and feed for poultry has received great attention
The use of algae as a source of biofuels would be economically meaningful if defatted algal biomass (DAB) was reused
Since algal biomass is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and bioactive compounds it is ideal for feed applications (Population Reference Bureau, 2012)
Summary
The use of algae as a source of biofuels and feed for poultry has received great attention. The use of algae as a source of biofuels would be economically meaningful if defatted algal biomass (DAB) was reused. There is no doubt that the nutritional value of algae has been studied many years ago by many researchers where, researches indicated that algae is a rich source of protein, sugars and antioxidants in addition to many dyes and has been used in many foods for humans and animals instead of synthetic materials (Yaakob et al, 2014). On the same context, Park et al (2018) indicated that Spirulina contains physiological active components These components potentially work as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammation and immune enhancer agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of supplementing defatted Scenedesmus obliquus biomass after extracting the oils from the biomass to broilers’ diets from one-day-old to marketing age at 35 days of age on broilers’ performance and physiological status, and evaluating the best level of supplementation
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