Use of fresh water alga Spirogyra ellipsospora Transeau as feed supplement to broiler chicks

Attempts were made to formulate a feed ration to poultry birds, broiler [Indian River Variety FS99] in order to achieve a low cost feed with better potentiality. Algal material Spirogyra ellipsospora Transeau was used as feed supplement for broiler chicks. After necessary processing, four concentrations viz. 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of algal material were mixed up with commercial feed of chicks [starter and finisher feed]. Feeding 1 experiments were performed from the day old chicks to ten weeks. Biochemical parameters [ash, carbohydrate, fat, protein and water content] of liver of chicks fed on different algal compositions as well as control feed were also studied. It was observed that the birds which were fed on higher concentration [10%-20%] of algal feed showed best results in terms of quality and quantity of meat. Spirogyra ellipsospora [15%-20%] showed best growth. Mortality rate was zero as no chick died during the whole feeding trial. On the other hand chemical analysis of chick's liver showed that there were no significant differences in fat contents of liver in control and algal fed chicks