Spirulina platensis: A Natural Feed Additive to Support the Productivity andProfitability of Broiler Chickens

Optimal performance and profitability are cornerstones of sustainable poultry production.Spirulina platensis (SP), as a natural feed additive, holds promise for enhancing the productivity and economic efficiency of broilers.Thus, we evaluated the effects of dietary SP inclusion on broiler chickens' overall performance, carcass composition, and meat quality.Three hundred one-day-old Cobb500 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatment groups.A basal diet without SP was offered to the control group; meanwhile, the four treatment groups were offered the same basal diet with SP at 1, 2, 3, or 4g/kg, designated as SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4, respectively, over a five-week experimental period.Results demonstrated that increasing dietary SP inclusion from 1 to 4g/kg led to a significant linear improvement (P<0.05) in body weight gain, feed conversion, and the European Broiler Index.Additionally, carcass dressing percentage and the relative weights of the breast muscle, liver, spleen, heart, and abdominal fat were significantly enhanced as SP dosage increased (P<0.05).In terms of meat quality, SP supplementation leads to a linear increase in meat yellowness and water-holding capacity.Contrarily, meat drip loss and cooking loss were significantly reduced, indicating enhanced meat retention properties.From an economic perspective, higher levels of SP inclusion were associated with a linear increase (P<0.05) in both total production cost and gross return.Notably, the SP4 group achieved the highest net return (P<0.05),reflecting a favorable cost-benefit ratio.In conclusion, dietary supplementation with SP at 4g/kg effectively enhanced broiler performance, carcass quality, and economic returns.These outcomes support the efficacy of Spirulina as a natural feed additive in broiler nutrition.Further investigation is required to reveal Spirulina's mechanisms of action and to optimize its use under varying production conditions.