Abstract: |
The broiler industry is pivotal in meeting the growing global demand for highly nutritious
animal protein foods. Hence, there is a continuous interest in identifying novel, alternative, and
even unconventional feed resources that could help sustainably support chicken meat production
and quality. In this view, the microalga Spirulina (Arthrospira, formerly Spirulina, platensis), due
to its unique chemical composition and some ecological advantages offered by its cultivation over
traditional agriculture, has attracted great attention in the poultry sector for potential application
in broiler diets, either as a functional supplement or a replacer of conventional protein sources
such as soybean meal. The studies conducted so far seem to have confirmed many of the initial
expectations regarding the advantages that may derive from dietary Spirulina supplementation,
documenting its capacity to positively influence the intestinal and general health status of broiler
chickens, leading to improved or preserved productive performance (under normal or challenging
conditions, respectively), as well as to increased disease resistance and survivability. Furthermore,
dietary Spirulina supplementation has been shown to induce positive changes in some important
traits of broiler meat quality. However, at present, the inclusion of Spirulina in broiler diet, especially
but not solely in relation to the use as an alternative protein source, presents several technical and
economic limitations. To increase the overall awareness around the actual usefulness and practical
usability of Spirulina as a novel natural component of the broiler diet, this review paper seeks to
provide a comprehensive and integrated presentation of what is currently known about this topic,
highlighting critical issues that are still pending and would require further research efforts
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