Animals (Apr 2022)

Effect of Feeding 0.8% Dried Powdered <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> Biomass on Growth Performance, Immune Response, and Intestinal Morphology during Grower Phase in Broiler Chickens

  • Simon Roques,
  • Sietse-Jan Koopmans,
  • Annemarie Mens,
  • Jan van Harn,
  • Marinus van Krimpen,
  • Soumya Kanti Kar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091114
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 9
p. 1114

Abstract

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An experiment was performed to study the effects of a low inclusion level of Chlorella vulgaris (CV) biomass in broiler diets on performance, immune response related to inflammatory status, and the intestinal histomorphology. The study was performed with 120 Ross 308 male broiler chickens from 0–35 days of age. The broilers were housed in 12 floor pens (1.5 m2) bedded with wood shavings. The broilers received a three phase diet program, either with 0.8% CV biomass (CV) or without CV (CON). Each diet program was replicated in six pens. The final body weight increased (p = 0.053), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR), corrected for body weight, was reduced (p = 0.02) in birds fed CV compared to birds fed CON. In addition, decreased haptoglobins (p = 0.02) and interleukin-13 (p p < 0.01) was observed between haptoglobin response and FCR. Histomorphology parameters of the jejunum were not different between the groups. It was concluded that the inclusion of 0.8% CV biomass in broiler diets is effective in influencing immune responses related to inflammatory status and promoting broiler growth.

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