title: Potential and limitation of a new defatted diatom microalgal biomass in replacing soybean meal and corn in diets for broiler chickens.
abstract: Three experiments were conducted to determine if defatted diatom Staurosira sp. biomass (DFA) (Cellana, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA) from biofuel production could replace a portion of soybean meal (SBM) and (or) corn in diets for broiler chicks. In experiment 1, 2-day-old chicks were fed diets with DFA at 0% (control), 7.5% replacing SBM, or 7.5 and 10% replacing SBM and corn. Chicks fed the DFA-containing diets had lower body weight gain (P < 0.05) than the controls in the starter period. Two follow-up experiments, experiments 2 and 3, indicated that supplementing the 7.5% DFA diet (replacing SBM) with amino acids, but not exogenous protease or electrolytes, restored growth performance of chicks to the control levels. Responses of plasma and liver biomarkers and gross examination of digestive tract showed no toxicity of DFA. In conclusion, DFA could substitute for 7.5% of SBM alone, or in combination with corn, in diets for broiler chicks when appropriate amino acids are added.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Austic
authors.forename: Ahsan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Byoungyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatrell
authors.forename: Xin Gen
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*