article · Poultry Science
An evaluation of dietary supplementation using combinations of two microalgae, Spirulina and Dunaliella, was conducted on adult laying Japanese quails. Quails received feed containing varying levels of the microalgae mix up to 2.0 grams per kilogram. While the supplementation did not lead to substantial increases in egg production, egg weight, or total egg mass, it improved final body weight and altered feed intake compared to the control group. In addition, feed containing up to 1.0 gram per kilogram increased fertility and hatchability rates. Egg quality checks revealed higher eggshell percentages and modified egg shapes. Furthermore, the microalgae additive enhanced kidney and liver enzyme activity, reduced most lipid profile indicators, and led to minor improvements in immune markers such as immunoglobulin concentrations.
Identifying effective, natural dietary supplements is crucial for animal health and agricultural productivity. Demonstrating that microalgae mixes can boost quail body weight, improve hatchability, and support metabolic and immune function provides poultry managers with clear evidence on alternative feeding strategies to optimise flock welfare and reproductive performance without compromising health indicators.
This work demonstrates potential applications for animal feed manufacturers and commercial quail breeders seeking natural feed additives to improve bird health, fertility, and hatchability. Because the findings stem from a controlled feeding trial testing specific dietary dosages, the research sits at an applied and tested stage, though wider validation in commercial-scale poultry operations would be required before market rollout.
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This experiment was carried out to investigate the nutritional value of Spirulina and Dunaliella (SD) combination levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g/kg) that affected the laying Japanese quail's efficiency, egg quality, fertility, and blood biological indicators. A total of 150 adult Japanese quails, aged 8 wk, were divided into 5 treatments at random, each consisting of 30 quails. There were 5 duplicates for every treatment, with 2 male and 4 female quails in each. Comparing the addition of various concentrations of a mixture of SD to the control treatment, the results showed no substantial rise in egg production, egg weight, or egg mass. When compared to the control group, final body weight (FBW) was improved with SD supplementation. The quails in control consumed more feed intake (FI) (p < 0.05), and they were different from the groups who got SD therapy in that they had a regular feed conversion ratio (FCR). The percentages of hatchability and fertility increased when SD was added to quail meals at up to 1.00 g/kg. When compared to the control quail, the quail supplemented with SD levels showed a non-significant rise in albumin%, yolk%, Haugh unit, and unit surface shell weight (USSW), as well as an increase in eggshell percentage and a drop in egg shape index (p < 0.05). Renal and hepatic enzyme functioning improved when SD was added to the diets. Additionally, lipid profile indicators were reduced by SD supplementation (except low-density lipoprotein-LDL). Moreover, compared to the control, incorporating SD led to a nonsignificant rise in immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG and IgM). In conclusion, adding SD to the diet can improve body weight, lipid profile, immunological response, and liver and kidney functions in Japanese quail.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103454
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