G. Girish VarmaSETHU. C. NAiR2020-01-092020-01-092003http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810140060Enhancemenl of lotai production without compromising aspects of wholesomeness and subject /consumer enx ironmeniai saielN ot the produce forms the new challenge of Indian pouitiA industiA . Since nutrition is the single largest external factor affecting performance of the stock and accounting lion share of the input cost, nutritional manipulations ha\ e \\ idel>- been usea to take up this challenge. Especially m the uake of set backs from potential residual hazards of anabolic steroids used as gnnMh promoting feed additnes. use ol certain blue green algae as dietaix supplement offers more innocuous organic alternatives, for being safe to the subject, consumers and eiiMronmeni. Owing to their success in human health uith anabolic and therapeutic effects cyanobacteria, the blue green algae, are being tried m in estock/poultrc' production as well. Spirulina is rich in protein. Mtamins and proMtamins such as carotenoids, and minerals. Protein from spirulina is believed to be highly digestible due to the lack of a cell nail; it contains 18 ammo acids, major ones being Ivsine. arginine. threonine. methion.ne and phem lalanine. High lec els of arginine is normallv belieced to be insuiinogemc. indirecth througn stimulation of urowth hormone secretion The present stride forms part ol an exploration of grouth promoting and fertilite' augmenting aspects of one of the popular species ol blue green algae. Sniniiinu pkiicnsis. eneisagmg exaiuation of us influence on haemaioiogicai. biochemical and feriihu parameters ol' .Ausira-nhiie male chicken, nhen usea as a dietaiA supplement. l"hirtv-tno numbers of eight-neek-old Austra-wlute male chickens were reared under standard management conditions in batten cages m Department of Piwsiologv. Eoilege Of \ eterinan and Animal Sciences. The birds were selected randomh and diMued into two groups. G 1 (control) and G 11 (spirulina supplemented) comprising of sixteen birds in each. Birds ol gioup G 1were solcK' led uidi standard la^c^ rat,on and ionncd lite controls nt ttte experiment while birds of G II group uere fed ia^er ration uith dietarc supplementation of Spimlma plaicnsis at the level of 2.o /<. ol feed. Both ratio •ere made isocaloric and isomtrogenous Feed and water were prowded to birdsw ud libitum Body weight of the birds was taken at monthlv intervals front initial period (eight week of age) to thirt>-two weeks of age. Blood was collected at monthly intervals from third to eighth months of age. Estimation ol haematological parameters comprised total er>throc>te count (TEC), haemoglobm content (Hh), volume of packed red cells (VPRC). eivthrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total leukocvte count (TEC). Ervthrocvtic indices were calculated from the estimated t alues of TEC. Hb and VPRC, Biochemical profile of plasma included estimation of total protein, albumin, globulin. alDumin globulin (A: 0) ratio (protein profile), cholesterol, triglvcendes. total lipids (hpid profile), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bilinibin at monthly intervals from third to eighth month. Plasma antioxidant status was assessed by estimating catalase enzyme activitv' and lipid peroxidation letel. Semen was collected at twentyfou'rtlt, twenty-eighth and thirty-second ^^eeks of age. Semen evaluation was done by observing the motility. mass acliMl)'. semen volume, methclene blue reduction time (ivlBRT). percentage of in e sperms (differential staining and hypo osmolarit>' swelling) and heat and cold shock resistance tests in the collected semen samples. Birds were sacrificed at thirt> -lwo weeks of age and the relative oruan weight of Iwer. spleen, pancreas turd testes was estimated, Lipiu pemxidaiion level of homogenized samples of liver, spleen, pancreas and testes uere also estimated The data were stat.sl.cailv anah sed using appropriate tests, BodN weight of birds fed with spiruiina (G 11 group) was signiticantly higher when comptired to control (G I group), Reltiln e organ weight also showed a significanlK higher relative weight lor spleen, paircreas and testes. The birds of G 11 group [Spiruima piatcmis- fed) showed a significanth nigner ralues ol TEC- Hb concentration. VPRC and flA compared to control (G 1 group) birds. The value of ESR u;is sigmncaulh loner for the spirulina let! group Plainia protein profile indicated a significant higher concentration of total protein, albumin and globulin levels tn spirulttiahed group Plasma Itpid profile had a lorv total lip.d and cholesterol level tn sptrultna fed birds of G II group nhen compared to the controls tn G i group However, the trtglvcertde levels was significantly higher for spirulina fed birds (G II groupl Plasma concentrations of BUN and bilirubin were also significantiv higher for G II group. The results indicated a strong haematopoiet.c elTect of spirulina and its usefulness as a protein rich nutntional supplement for poultiA Plasma amioxidant activity was significantly higher for G 11 group in the sense that the spirulina fed group showed .an increased blood calalase activity and a decreased plasma lipid peroxidation levels Estimation of peroxidation level in homogenised samples of liver and testes also had a significantiv lower peroxidation level in birds of G II group Results underlined the strong antioxidant capacity of spirulina. Semen evaluation studies revealed a significantly htgher semen volume, motility, and percentage of live sperms in semen samples from birds of G 11 group (spirulina fed) when compared to G I group Semen samples from O II group also showed a significantly low er melhv lene blue reduction time compared io G 1 group Heat and cold shock resistance lest failed to show any significant difference between lire two groups Results indicated the fertilitv augmenting properly ol spirulina. The present sttidv is consistent with earlier reports of growth promoting and ervthropoielic effects of spirulina Free radical scavenging ellect of this species 01 iilga has caused a marked increase in ihe amioxidanl slams of the subiecls. congiuen. vv iih earlier findings .Vdduionailv. ihis is .he iirsl publication ,0 repon indicalions of a fenflilv augmenling elTecl of this alga m male birds How ever, coifiirinanon of lire laue, effec. needs funhe, invesligalion, prelerab.v With inseminaiion studies.ennullThesis