Effect of Spirulina supplementation on growth performance of broilers

Abstract

The research was conducted in the poultry house of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science college of Agriculture, Latur, VNMKV Parbhani during the year 2014-15. The experimental trial of six weeks was undertaken on eighty, day old, ‘Vencobb 400Y’ broiler chicks divided into four groups. Control (T0) group was fed standard broiler diet and T1, T2 and T3 groups were provided supplemented with 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 per cent spirulina, respectively. Mean live weight of six weeks of the experiment and live weight at the end of experiment were found to be (P<0.05) higher in Spirulina supplemented T2 and T3 groups of broilers than that of Control (T0) and T1 group. Comparatively better mean weekly weight gain and feed efficiency were also observed in spirulina supplemented groups (T1, T2 and T3) with decreased feed consumption as compared to control (T0) group of broilers. It can be concluded that the inclusion of 0.06 per cent of spirulina in broiler diet as a herbal feed additive is beneficial in improving the live weight and weight gain.