Table 1 Effects of supplementation of calcidiol, DHA-rich microalgal biomass or oil, and EPA-rich microalgal biomass on growth performance of broiler chickens in Exp. 1 and 2 (0–6 weeks)

Parameters

BD

BD + Cal

BD + DHA

BD + Cal + DHA

SEM

P-value

BW 0 d, g/chick

41.9

41.8

41.8

41.7

0.170

0.85

BW 0–6 weeks, g/chick

2910^a

3230^b

3090^ab

3160^ab

51.20

< 0.01

BWG 0–6 weeks, g/chick

2870^a

3190^b

3040^ab

3120^ab

57.25

< 0.01

FI 0–6 weeks, g/chick

4860^a

5050^ab

5240^ab

5450^b

115.4

< 0.01

Gain:Feed

0.590^a

0.630^b

0.580^a

0.570^a

0.008

< 0.01

Exp. 2

BD

BD + DHA

BD + DHA + EPA

BD + DHA+ Cal

BD + DHA + EPA + Cal

SEM

P-value

BW 0 d, g/chick

42.3

42.3

42.4

42.4

42.4

0.07

0.64

BW 0–6 weeks, g/chick

2520^a

2600^ab

2770^b

2530^ab

2590^ab

62.82

0.04

BWG 0–6 weeks, g/chick

2480^a

2560^ab

2730^b

2490^ab

2550^ab

62.84

0.04

FI 0–6 weeks, g/chick

3880^a

3870^a

4410^b

4080^ab

4470^b

121.8

< 0.01

Gain:Feed

0.640^ab

0.660^b

0.620^ab

0.610^ab

0.570^a

0.02

0.02