What this work is about, in plain words
A production trial of the feed supplement Algalat (dry chlorella and lactic acid bacteria) in broiler chickens. According to the author, the best result came from the lowest of three doses — 0.5 % of the diet.
Modern broiler breeds need a diet rich in protein and biologically active substances. Chlorella contains a lot of protein, vitamins and carotenoids, so it is being tried as a feed additive for poultry. The author tested the feed complex Algalat — a mixture of dried chlorella, lactic acid bacteria, and mineral and plant fillers — and looked for the best dose.
Three-day-old chicks were divided into four groups of 12 birds. The control group received the usual diet, and three experimental groups received it with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 % Algalat. Fattening lasted 39 days. The birds were weighed regularly, feed consumption was recorded, and blood and gut microflora were examined at the end.
According to the author, all the birds survived. By day 42, the average live weight was 1994 g in the control and 2043 to 2127 g in the experimental groups; the best result was at the 0.5 % dose. Per 1 kg of weight gain, the control group used 2.0 kg of feed and the experimental groups 1.87–1.94 kg. The author also notes changes in blood biochemistry and a reduction in clostridia in the gut.
The work is an example of using chlorella in poultry feed.
Limitations. A single trial in small groups (12 birds each). Algalat is a third-party product; the work does not describe Laboratory 17 materials.