The article describes a method for feeding broiler chickens of the cross Cobb 500 using an unconventional feed additive from dehydrogenate brown algae Fucus vesiculosis. In the previous decade, researchers have shown great interest in determining the antioxidant activity of biologically active substances and their complexes. Obtaining new phytocomplexes with high antioxidant activity from algae, as well as other plant products, is an actively developing direction. Extracts from fucus algae are promising as antioxidant biologics due to the high content of polyphenols and fucoidan. The antioxidant activity has been shown by a number of authors, as well as the possible role of other biologically active substances of algae, such as ascorbic acid, free amino acids, and others. Today, the field of the fucus algae use is extremely extensive. One of the most popular ways to use it is to add fucus grains to the farm animals’ diet. Literature data show that the fucus algae use in feeding chickens of the parent flock provided high productive qualities of the bird and positively affected the poults’ hatchability. Fucus crumbles are recommended as an optimal feed additive for chickens in order to increase productivity and realize the genetic cross’s potential. The high nutritional value of algae, a large number of essential amino acids, macro-, microelements, and vitamins allow recommending its use in feed, protein-vitamin-mineral additives and premixes for farm animals and poultry as a source of nutrients and biologically active additives. The purpose of the work is to study the effect of white sea fucus crumbles on broiler productivity, and to assess the state of the gastrointestinal tract of chickens during the growth period after the use of a feed additive. The researchers performed a biochemical and clinical blood test, and estimated the average daily and gross weight gain. The authors obtained positive results of using Fucus vesiculosus in feeding broiler chickens
Keywords
Broiler chickens, unconventional feed additive, algae, Fucus vesicuosis, Cobb 500