Spirulina microalgae is a popular "green" health food. Usually sold as a fine powder or tablets it is becoming increasingly popular as part of a healthy diet for our family pets and commercial live stock. Spirulina is what is known as a functional food. That means wile it is a food we can get nutrition and calories to feed our bodies, it also has special functions that work to enhance health.
A number of studies on a wide variety of animals and humans show that Spirulina strengthens the immune system. In dogs and cats have been shown to have improved immune system which also translate into better quality skin and coat. Animals with fleas and subsequent itching skin are helped significantly with Spirulina supplements. Spirulina helps the immune system to bring allergic skin reaction caused by ticks and fleas under control.
Spirulina is very concentrated. Dogs the size of a Golden Retriever may need only one teaspoon or two per day with food. Most dogs consider it a yummy treat. Dog food companies view Spirulina as a flavor enhancer. Cats respond well to 1/8 teaspoon or 1/3 a tab each day. Allied Waves carry only high quality pure Spirulina.
Spirulina is a popular supplement for exotic birds because it brightens colorful plumage and can improve fertility. Many scientific studies show that it is a good for birds, acting especially to improve immune system function. It is a safe functional food, rich in betacarotene and other natural pigments. Spirulina is best when fed in very small amounts (1% of the daily diet). Spirulina powder may be sprinkled over soft-food, mixed into hand feeding formulas or baked into cornbread. Spirulina is excellent for breeding birds and hatchlings. It is commonly feed to parrots, cockatiels, budgies, finches, pheasants, ostrich, emu and many other species.
The following was taken from an article written by Ron Henson vice president of Earthrise Company and published in the December 1995 issue of Bird Breeder:
Scientists recently announced that the food Spirulina dramatically strengthens the avian immune system. This is of great interest to veterinarians and breeders of exotic birds. It explains why parrots suffering from opportunistic infections recover quickly when fed Spirulina. In scientific studies, Spirulina protected birds from infection with the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.
"Immunomodulatory Effects of Spirulina Supplementation in Chickens," by M.A. Qureshi, shows that small daily doses, just 1 percent of the diet, greatly improve the immune system. Using chickens as models, American scientists confirmed findings of their Russian, Chinese and Japanese counterparts. These scientists tested the theory that Spirulina plantensis act as a safe, edible, broad-spectrum vaccine against bacteria. It also protects against other disease-causing microbes and cancers.Many scientists are now studying the medical benefits of eating Spirulina. It is a natural green food, a safe alternative to antibiotics.
What Is It?
The microscopic is an edible blue-green microalgae sold as a dry powder. It deepens feather color and shine, stimulates breeding and enhances fertility. Spirulina is a traditional food of Mexican and African peoples. Spirulina has 62% amino acid content. It is the world's richest source of vitamin B12 and antioxidant beta-carotene (20 times that of carrots). Wild Spirulina sustains huge flocks of wild flamingos in super-alkaline East African Lakes.
Edible Spirulina grown in controlled environments is much different from wild algae found in lakes. The Spirulina is grown by scientists and highly trained technicians at a special aquatic farm. It is harvested and packed in a licensed, government-inspected, sanitary food processing plant. Each batch gets thorough testing for purity before release for sale. Always obtain Spirulina and other foods from a reliable source.
Medical Benefits
Several reports appearing in scientific literature document the medical benefits of Spirulina. They all show that Spirulina improves the immune system. Why is this important for breeding birds?
Baby birds are protected from otherwise deadly germs with antibodies from the egg yoke. The egg yoke antibodies soon wear out as the baby contacts germs in the outside world. This leaves a young chick vulnerable to infection unless it is able to quickly build its own antibodies. Antibodies are created by a complex network of interactive white blood cells known as macrophages, T-cells and B-cells. Spirulina accelerates the building of this cellular immune system, allowing it to increase antibody production and protect against invading germs.
In 1989, Professor Ernest Ross of the University of Hawaii and Warren Dominy of the Oceanic Institute also studied Spirulina-fed birds. They reported that small amounts of Spirulina cause fertility in quail to go up to very high levels (96.1), much higher than quail on the standard breeder diet.
How does Spirulina build the immune system? It is very nutritious, containing all the essential amino acids. It is also rich in anti-inflammatory GLA fatty acids, antioxidants and other phytochemicals. However, two unique natural substances supercharge the immune system.
The first is the brilliant-blue protein phycocyanin, found only in blue-green algae. Phycocyanin acts like erythropoetin, (EPO). EPO is the hormone that regulates the bone marrow cells that produce white blood cells. Phycocyanin stimulates the immature or damaged immune system to grow or to repair itself when injured by infection, toxic chemicals or radiation.
Many breeders of exotic birds report that fertility and hatchability improve when Spirulina is used. Birds have less sickness or recover more quickly, often with what seems to be "miracle cures". Others report fewer problems with feather plucking and better recovery from self-mutilation. Feather quality and coloration reach their peak. Veterinarians observe that infections quickly respond to treatment, and wound healing improves. Spirulina supercharges the avian immune system for better disease resistance and increase fertility
