An Optimal Enrichment of The Basal Diet with Marine Algae (Ascophyllum nodosum) Improves the Production Performance of Broilers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is the only access to have a sufficient food to supply the growing population and deprivation. It is important to pay attention not only the country's balance of trade but the security and health of its population as well. To address these concerns, the researcher decided to investigate the efficiency of the developed product of marine algae specifically Ascophyllum nodosum as an optimal dietary enrichment to improve the production performance of broilers.

METHODS

The experimental research design used the Latin Square Design. Three hundred twenty (320) mixed-sex day-old broiler chicks were used and assigned randomly to four treatment groups with four replicates of twenty (20) birds. The broilers were reared for 35 days of feeding trail and housed in cages and offered appropriate commercial feeds with the addition of 0% (Control-A), 0.25% (B), 2% (C), and 5% (D) pulverized A.nodosum.

RESULTS

Feeding marine algae specifically A. nodosum as dietary supplement was remarkably efficient as an optimal enrichment diet to enhance the broiler production performance. Based on the gathered results, there were no significant differences in the mean values for Total Weight Gain and Average Daily Gain at 95% confidence level. However, there was a significant difference in the mean values for the Total Feed Intake, with the control group having the highest mean at 4232.01. The lowest feed intake was observed among birds given 0.25% algae in their diet. Significant difference (P<0.001) was also noted in the Feed Conversion Ratio, where, birds fed with control diet had higher mean value compared to treatment groups. No significant difference was noted in terms of mortality rate. Likewise, no significant difference in all mean values of the carcass weights. This indicates that the percent yield for internal organs and head and feet of broilers fed with varying levels of marine algae are not statistically different with control group (P>0.05).

DISCUSSIONS

Indeed, marine algae inclusion was found to yield the most pronounced effects on TFI, FCR, dressing revenue and enterprise analysis. However, A. nodosum did not influence on the TWG, ADG, mortality and carcass weights. Therefore, dietary marine algae could be utilized in broiler diet up to 0.25%, without any adverse effects on the performance and in enterprise analysis. Furthermore, the nutrient content of A. nodosum manifested to complete the insufficiencies in feeds.