High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality
This study evaluated Chlorella vulgaris as an alternative feed ingredient for broilers, focusing on the effects of extrusion processing and superdosed enzyme supplementation. The objective was to assess its impact on growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, animal welfare paramet...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125006157 |
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| author | A.R. Mendes O. Madacussengua J.M. Pestana C.F. Martins M.P. Spínola D.F.P. Carvalho M.M. Costa P. Ferreira J.I. Ferreira A.M. Fontes M.P. Mourato A.J. Davis A.M. Almeida M. Lordelo J.A.M. Prates |
| author_facet | A.R. Mendes O. Madacussengua J.M. Pestana C.F. Martins M.P. Spínola D.F.P. Carvalho M.M. Costa P. Ferreira J.I. Ferreira A.M. Fontes M.P. Mourato A.J. Davis A.M. Almeida M. Lordelo J.A.M. Prates |
| author_sort | A.R. Mendes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluated Chlorella vulgaris as an alternative feed ingredient for broilers, focusing on the effects of extrusion processing and superdosed enzyme supplementation. The objective was to assess its impact on growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, animal welfare parameters, and meat quality, with particular emphasis on how microalga extrusion and enzyme supplementation influence these parameters. A digestibility trial suggests that extrusion improves true metabolizable energy and amino acid bioavailability, particularly lysine and methionine, enhancing nutrient utilisation. A feeding trial investigated the effects of a 15 % dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris, either untreated, extruded, or supplemented with a superdose of pancreatin, compared to a conventional maize–soybean control diet. Results indicated that C. vulgaris inclusion did not negatively affect broiler growth, with extrusion improving final body weight compared to the control. Superdosed enzyme supplementation reduced digesta viscosity. Chlorella vulgaris-fed birds, particularly the untreated group, showed minor effects on beak condition, with slightly higher feed adhesion. However, superdosed enzyme supplementation mitigated this effect. Excreta scoring remained unaffected, indicating good digestibility. Meat from Chlorella vulgaris-fed broilers showed improved nutritional quality: yellowness increased, oxidative stability improved, and a healthier lipid profile with higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and a lower n-6/n-3. The mineral composition of breast meat was enhanced, with increased potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels, and reduced sodium. These findings suggest that Chlorella vulgaris is a promising and environmentally more sustainable feed ingredient that supports broiler performance while enhancing meat quality. Future research should refine processing methods and inclusion strategies to maximise nutrient bioavailability and cost-effectiveness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27d2d976d9f649c88ee5b84e26106ba7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0032-5791 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-27d2d976d9f649c88ee5b84e26106ba72025-08-20T02:46:57ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-08-01104810537210.1016/j.psj.2025.105372High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat qualityA.R. Mendes0O. Madacussengua1J.M. Pestana2C.F. Martins3M.P. Spínola4D.F.P. Carvalho5M.M. Costa6P. Ferreira7J.I. Ferreira8A.M. Fontes9M.P. Mourato10A.J. Davis11A.M. Almeida12M. Lordelo13J.A.M. Prates14LEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal; CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, PortugalLEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, PortugalLEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, PortugalCIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, PortugalLEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalDepartment of Poultry Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USALEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalLEAF - Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalCIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal; AL4AnimalS - Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária, Lisboa, Portugal; Corresponding author: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal.This study evaluated Chlorella vulgaris as an alternative feed ingredient for broilers, focusing on the effects of extrusion processing and superdosed enzyme supplementation. The objective was to assess its impact on growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, animal welfare parameters, and meat quality, with particular emphasis on how microalga extrusion and enzyme supplementation influence these parameters. A digestibility trial suggests that extrusion improves true metabolizable energy and amino acid bioavailability, particularly lysine and methionine, enhancing nutrient utilisation. A feeding trial investigated the effects of a 15 % dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris, either untreated, extruded, or supplemented with a superdose of pancreatin, compared to a conventional maize–soybean control diet. Results indicated that C. vulgaris inclusion did not negatively affect broiler growth, with extrusion improving final body weight compared to the control. Superdosed enzyme supplementation reduced digesta viscosity. Chlorella vulgaris-fed birds, particularly the untreated group, showed minor effects on beak condition, with slightly higher feed adhesion. However, superdosed enzyme supplementation mitigated this effect. Excreta scoring remained unaffected, indicating good digestibility. Meat from Chlorella vulgaris-fed broilers showed improved nutritional quality: yellowness increased, oxidative stability improved, and a healthier lipid profile with higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and a lower n-6/n-3. The mineral composition of breast meat was enhanced, with increased potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels, and reduced sodium. These findings suggest that Chlorella vulgaris is a promising and environmentally more sustainable feed ingredient that supports broiler performance while enhancing meat quality. Future research should refine processing methods and inclusion strategies to maximise nutrient bioavailability and cost-effectiveness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125006157Chlorella vulgarisExtruded microalgaFeed enzymeBroilers’ performanceMeat quality |
| spellingShingle | A.R. Mendes O. Madacussengua J.M. Pestana C.F. Martins M.P. Spínola D.F.P. Carvalho M.M. Costa P. Ferreira J.I. Ferreira A.M. Fontes M.P. Mourato A.J. Davis A.M. Almeida M. Lordelo J.A.M. Prates High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality Poultry Science Chlorella vulgaris Extruded microalga Feed enzyme Broilers’ performance Meat quality |
| title | High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality |
| title_full | High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality |
| title_fullStr | High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality |
| title_short | High dietary inclusion of Chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing: Effects on broiler performance, welfare, and meat quality |
| title_sort | high dietary inclusion of chlorella vulgaris with extrusion or enzyme superdosing effects on broiler performance welfare and meat quality |
| topic | Chlorella vulgaris Extruded microalga Feed enzyme Broilers’ performance Meat quality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125006157 |
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