Chlorella vulgaris (CV) is a microalga of great interest for broiler production, due to its nutritional and functional properties. Currently, expensive bioprocessing steps are used to acquire the functional components that could achieve the desired biofunctionality of CV, in particular, to maintain productivity and support health in broilers. This makes CV an expensive feed ingredient that can only be used in low inclusion levels, otherwise, the cost of the feed is too high. However, it is not clear whether low CV inclusion levels have positive effects on broiler production and immune response.
This study investigated whether adding CV biomass, at a low inclusion level of 0.8%, to broiler diets maintained the functional properties of microalgae and improved broiler productive performance. The researchers found that the addition of 0.8% CV biomass affects the immune response, and has positive effects on the overall productive performance of broilers.
The paper concludes that the inclusion of 0.8% CV biomass in broiler diets effectively influences immune responses related to inflammatory status and promotes broiler growth.
source: Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands; Simon Roques , Sietse-Jan Koopmans, Annemarie Mens, Jan van Harn, Marinus van Krimpen† and Soumya Kanti Kar
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