The effect of Spirulina platensis in drinking water on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant enzyme activity and some blood parameters of Arian broiler chickens

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Arash Ramezanpour Shahi 1
Meysam Mamashli 2
Behnam Ghorbani 3
1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord- Iran
2 DVM Graduate Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Garmsar Islamic Azad University, Garmsar- Iran
3 Ph.D. of Animal and Poultry Nutrition, Gorgan University of Agriculture and National Resources, Gorgan- Iran
10.22034/IJVCS.2024.14808.1089
Abstract
The poultry industry faces a critical issue in optimizing growth rates and nutrient levels through the use of food supplements. Spirulina platensis, a single-celled algae, has been identified as a potentially effective supplement for poultry nutrition. In this study, the effects of using spirulina algae on growth performances, antioxidant enzymes activity and immune system factors in Arian strain broilers were investigated. A total of 375 one-day-old male Arian broilers were included in a 6 week trial. The chicks were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each with five replicates of 15 birds. The treatment groups received varying concentrations of spirulina: Group A (5 g/L), Group B (2.5 g/L), and Group C (1 g/L), along with Group P (positive control) and Group N (negative control). growth performances, antioxidant enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility and some blood parameters were measured. The results showed significant differences in the growth performances included body weight (BW) , body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between the spirulina treated groups and the control groups (P<0.05) , though these differences diminished in the final week. Notably, Groups A, B, and C demonstrated significant improvements in BW and FCR compared to controls (P<0.05). Also, the results showed that antioxidant enzymes activity, differential blood count and nutrient digestibility significantly increased in the Spirulina treated groups (P<0.05). Further, the immune system parameters indicated a more uniform and protective immune titer in the Spirulina treated groups (P<0.05).

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 2 - Serial Number 31
Fall & winter 2024/2025
January 2025
Pages 39-48