foods Article Effects of Chlorella vulgaris as a Feed Ingredient on the Quality and Nutritional Value of Weaned Piglets’ Meat Cátia F. Martins 1,2 , José M. Pestana 1, Cristina M. Alfaia 1 ,Mónica Costa 1 , David M. Ribeiro 2 , Diogo Coelho 1 , Paula A. Lopes 1 , André M. Almeida 2, João P. B. Freire 2 and José A. M. Prates 1,* 1 CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal;
[email protected] (C.F.M.);
[email protected] (J.M.P.);
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[email protected] (M.C.);
[email protected] (D.C.);
[email protected] (P.A.L.) 2 LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal;
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[email protected] Abstract: Chlorella vulgaris (CH) is usually considered a feed supplement in pig nutrition, and its use as an ingredient is poorly studied. Among many interesting characteristics, this microalga has high protein levels and can be a putative alternative for soybean meal. Our aim was to study the effect of a 5% CH incorporation in the diet, individually or combined with two carbohydrases, on meat quality traits and nutritional value. Forty-four post-weaned male piglets individually housed, with an initial live weight of 11.2 ± 0.46 kg, were randomly distributed into four experimental groups: Citation: Martins, C.F.; Pestana, J.M.; control (n = 11, without CH) and three groups fed with 5% CH incorporation, plain (n = 10), with Alfaia, C.M.; Costa, M.; Ribeiro, D.M.; 0.005% Rovabio® Excel AP (n = 10), and with 0.01% of a pre-selected four-CAZyme mixture (n = 11).