Nutritional Value of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Produced with Batch and Continuous Cultivation: Potential Use as Feed Material in Poultry Nutrition

Alternative feed materials in poultry production are an important tool for sustainability and also improving animal performance, health status, and product quality. Thus, our present study aimed to investigate the usage possibility of algae as an alternative feed ingredient in poultry nutrition. In these regards, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional value and production cost of three species of algae, namely Scenedesmus sp., Ankistrodesmus sp., and Synechococcaceae, harvested with batch and continuous cultivation processes. The current results clearly showed that the nutritional composition and amino acid profile of algae biomass harvested from three different microalgae species under batch and continuous cultivation practices are relatively higher and show variations in protein and lipid content. The current findings indicate the superiority of Scenedesmus sp. for its high PUFA and lysine content, and Synechocccaceae for its high content of methionine and threonine. Furthermore, Synechococcaceae could be offered as a natural additive for the pigmentation of egg yolk and broiler meat due to its darker shade of yellowness. It is important to emphasize that the nutritional value and production cost of microalgae must be considered to choose the right one as an alternative feedstuff.