The effect of high aluminum concentration on phosphorus utilization was established with diets containing three different sewage-grown Micractinium algae which had been harvested by alum flocculation.
Inclusion of 25% algae meal in chick diets reduced the plasma inorganic phosphorus as compared with the control diet by 59% or 75% in an apparent proportion to the aluminum concentration in the algae – 3.9% and 5.3% alum, respectively.
The metabolizable energy concentration of the various samples ranged from 1864 to 2880 kcal/kg and the nitrogen absorption from 53.8 to 68.2%.
The nutritional value of one of the algae samples was assessed in a broiler and a layer trial. Diets formulated by computer in a linear-programming system contained 3, 6, and 9% in the broiler trial and in the layer trial 5, 10, and 15% of dried algae meal.
Inclusion of up to 6% algae meal in well-balanced broiler diets from 1 to 7 weeks of age had no adverse effect either on growth or on feed/gain ratio. A reduced feed intake in the young chicks due to 9% algae resulted in a graded decrease in weight gain, while in the finisher period the decrease of feed intake caused a reduction in the accumulation of abdominal fat.
In laying hens the significantly inhibited feed intake resulted in a corresponding decrease in layer performance.
The role of dicalcium phosphate addition to neutralize the deleterious effect of high dietary aluminum level is discussed.
The effect of high aluminum concentration on phosphorus utilization was established with diets containing three different sewage-grown Micractinium algae which had been harvested by alum flocculation.
Inclusion of 25% algae meal in chick diets reduced the plasma inorganic phosphorus as compared with the control diet by 59% or 75% in an apparent proportion to the aluminum concentration in the algae – 3.9% and 5.3% alum, respectively.
The metabolizable energy concentration of the various samples ranged from 1864 to 2880 kcal/kg and the nitrogen absorption from 53.8 to 68.2%.
The nutritional value of one of the algae samples was assessed in a broiler and a layer trial. Diets formulated by computer in a linear-programming system contained 3, 6, and 9% in the broiler trial and in the layer trial 5, 10, and 15% of dried algae meal.
Inclusion of up to 6% algae meal in well-balanced broiler diets from 1 to 7 weeks of age had no adverse effect either on growth or on feed/gain ratio. A reduced feed intake in the young chicks due to 9% algae resulted in a graded decrease in weight gain, while in the finisher period the decrease of feed intake caused a reduction in the accumulation of abdominal fat.
In laying hens the significantly inhibited feed intake resulted in a corresponding decrease in layer performance.
The role of dicalcium phosphate addition to neutralize the deleterious effect of high dietary aluminum level is discussed.