Energy values and chemical composition of spirulina (Spirulina platensis) evaluated with broilers
Open accessAbstract
The objective of this study was to determine the chemical and energy composition of spirulina (Spirulina platensis), the nutrient metabolizability coefficients, and the values of apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and the apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) in broilers. A digestibility trial was carried out by using total excreta collection method, with 90 Cobb 500 lineage chicks, with initial weight of 256 ± 5 g at 11 days of age. Birds were allotted in metabolic cages for 10 days, distributed in a completely randomized design, with three treatments and six repetitions with five birds each. Diets consisted on a reference-ration based on corn and soybean meal and two test diets, one containing spirulina (30%) and the other one with soybean meal (30%). Spiruline was superior to soybean meal for contents of dry matter (DM), gross energy (9.60%), crude protein (26.56%), ether extract (54.45%), mineral matter (42.77%), calcium (100%) and total phosphorus (130.77%) and also for most amino acids, except lysine, glutamate, histidine and proline. Nevertheless, spiruline presented lower values of gross fiber (83.95%), acid detergent fiber (85.12%) and neutral detergent fiber (6.15). The AME and AMEn values (kcal/kg of DM) were, respectively, 2,906 and 2,502 for the spirulina and 2,646 and 2,340 for the soybean meal and AMEn of spirulina was 6.92% higher than soybean meal.
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Dried spirulina is a rich nutritional source with high protein content (260-770 g/kg) representing 70% dry weight and a large fat content (10-140 g/kg).
“Dried spirulina is a rich nutritional source, with a high protein content (260-770 g/kg) representing 70% dry weight and a large fat content (10-140 g/kg) (5–7).”
From Potential of Spirulina platensis as a feed supplement for poultry to enhance growth performance and immune modulation (2023) · cites this paper as [6]
The Introduction describes spirulina as protein-rich and gives 65–70% protein on a dry-matter basis, supporting the claim's 70% figure. However, it does not give the claimed 260–770 g/kg protein or 10–140 g/kg fat ranges. Table 2 in Results and Discussion reports 58.20% crude protein and 2.60% ether extract for the tested spirulina on a natural-matter basis; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSpirulina has high nutrient digestibility superior or equivalent to other vegetable diets and feeds.
“Additionally, it has been observed that these microalgae have a high nutrient digestibility that was superior or equivalent to that of other vegetable diets and feeds (6, 8).”
From Potential of Spirulina platensis as a feed supplement for poultry to enhance growth performance and immune modulation (2023) · cites this paper as [6]
The Results and Discussion (page unavailable in our copy) describe spirulina’s nutrient and energy metabolizability coefficients as satisfactory and report higher apparent metabolizable energy than soybean meal in broilers. They do not establish that spirulina’s nutrient digestibility is superior or equivalent to that of vegetable diets and feeds generally; higher nutrient content or metabolizable energy is not itself a digestibility comparison. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSpirulina contains protein, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, pigments, and essential amino acids.
“It contains protein, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, pigments, and essential amino acids.”
From Potential of Spirulina platensis as a feed supplement for poultry to enhance growth performance and immune modulation (2023) · cites this paper as [6]
The Introduction describes spirulina as rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Results and Discussion says it contains all essential amino acids and antioxidant carotenoids, supporting the pigment component. The paper measures lipid content but does not identify fatty acids, so that part of the claim is not established by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)
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Cites
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“Additionally, it has been observed that these microalgae have a high nutrient digestibility that was superior or equivalent to that of other vegetable diets and feeds (6, 8).”
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Sarmah, M., & Panda, M. R. (2026) · World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology · doi:10.1007/s11274-026-04849-6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Alvarenga, R. R., Rodrigues, P. B., Cantarelli, V. D. S., Zangeronimo, M. G., Silva Júnior, J. W. D., Silva, L. R. D., Santos, L. M. D., & Pereira, L. J.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal de Lavras (BR)
- UFLA
- Ouro Fino Agronegócio
- ORCID
- Venue
- Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia
- Publisher
- FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 992-996
- ISSN
- 1516-3598 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2088929944
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 3.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Ciência Animal
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food and Agricultural Sciences
- Keywords
- Spirulina, Spirulina platensis, broiler chickens, apparent metabolizable energy, nitrogen balance, nutrient digestibility, chemical composition, soybean meal, amino acid composition, fiber content, energy value of feed ingredients
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