Growth Performance and Manure Characteristics of Broilers Fed Graded Levels of Spirulina platensis

Abstract

In this study, the effect of varying concentrations of Spirulina platensis powder (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%) to broilers from day 14 to 32 on the growth performance and characteristics of manure from day 14 to 32 were examined. A total of 360 day-old Ross 308 broilers were used, arranged using a completely randomized design. The results showed that the addition of the 1% Spirulina treatment increased the weight (2156g compared to the control at 1983g), average daily weight gain (85.1g/d compared to the control at 77.5g/d), and the feed conversion rate (1.54 compared to the control at 1.67). These factors were all significantly higher compared to the control (P<0.05). Moreover, the addition of Spirulina at all concentrations, specifically at the 1% level, alleviated the manure output (37.8g/bird/d compared to the control at 41.5g/bird/d), pH (8.2 compared to the control at 8.9), ammonia content (167mg/kg compared to the control at 245mg/kg), and the emission of hydrogen sulfide (11.4ug/kg compared to the control.