Basal diet composition contributes to differential performance, intestinal health, and immunological responses to a microalgae-based feed ingredient in broiler chickens

Dietary alfalfa hay or lipid-soluble alfalfa extract may improve broiler growth, but fiber presence may be detrimental during Eimeria vaccine challenge

“…While challenges using high-dose vaccine strain Eimeria results in a relatively mild challenge as compared to wild type, these models are still valuable to the poultry industry because feed efficiency reductions associated with subclinical Eimeria infection are economically damaging ( López-Osorio et al, 2020 ). These challenge models also offer the benefit of reducing environmental contamination in multi-purpose research facilities as oocysts do not retain viability in composted bedding ( Fries-Craft et al, 2022 ). Additionally, the 14 dpi scoring timepoint was based on peak lesion for 2 of the 4 Eimeria species in Coccivac-B52 as attenuated E. tenella and E. acervulina peak lesion scores in the cecum and duodenum, respectively, occur at 12-17 dpi ( Chapman et al, 2002 ).…”

Molecular strategies to enhance the keratinase gene expression and its potential implications in poultry feed industry

“…Fungal and bacterial fermented proteases play a tremendous role in poultry feed formulation that proven relatively strong effects on immunity, weight gain, gut and gizzard performance, and feed conversion rate in broiler chickens ( Ghayour-Najafabadi et al, 2018 ). Corn- or wheat-based diet supplementation with bacterial xylanase or fungal xylanase has no effect that is worth mentioning on performance or productivity in the starter period of broiler chickens ( Fries-Craft et al, 2023 ). Beta-mannanase has significant effects on health, performance, pododermatitis, intestinal morphology, and digestibility through Clostridium perfringens .…”

Effect of Cumulative Spirulina Intake on Broiler Meat Quality, Nutritional and Health-Related Attributes

“…This aligns with findings from Altmann et al [ 11 ] and Altmann et al [ 24 ], indicating that the impact of Spirulina on protein and fat levels may depend on factors like the specific strain of Spirulina, the bird’s age and the overall diet composition. Indeed, a study by Fries-Craft et al [ 28 ] showed that the effect of a microalga strain incorporated in a maize- or wheat-based diet at 0.175% and fed to broilers for 42 days was dependent on the basal diet’s composition since an improvement in animal growth performance was only observed with the maize-based diet. In the reviewed literature, the basal diet composition is also variable.…”