The restriction of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock nutrition has led to a growing interest in plant feed additives. This study was designed to assess the production performance of broiler chickens fed on grad...The restriction of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock nutrition has led to a growing interest in plant feed additives. This study was designed to assess the production performance of broiler chickens fed on graded levels of<em> Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> powder in drinking water. A total of 448 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to seven treatment groups with 4 replicates of 16 birds each (08 males and 08 females). <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> root was grounded and incorporated at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 g/L of drinking water. Control rations consisted of diet without any supplement (T0) and antibiotic (1 g/kg) medicated diet (T0+). Throughout the experimental period (49 days) feed intake was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by graded levels of <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana </em>except for 5 g/L of water that significantly (p < 0.05) decreased feed intake. Weight gain was significantly higher (p < 0.05) with 1, 2 and 3 g/L, while feed conversion ratio was significantly lower (p < 0.05) with the same treatments compared to the control group (T0). Chickens fed on 1 g <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em>/L recorded a higher (p < 0.05) carcass yield compared to the control ration (T0). Haematological parameters were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected irrespective of the level of incorporation of the test spice in drinking water. Serum content in urea was significantly lower (p < 0.05) with 3 g <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em>/L compared to all other treatments. ASAT, ALAT, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL-cholesterol were not significantly affected by the inclusion of<em> Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> powder in drinking water. Feeding chickens with up to 4 g of<em> Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> significantly increased (p < 0.05) lactic acid bacteria count. E. coli and salmonella counts significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with the spice in water as compared to the control diet. In conclusion, the administration of up to 3 g of <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> powder through drinking water can be used as alternative to antibiotics to improve growth performance of broiler chickens.展开更多
文摘The restriction of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock nutrition has led to a growing interest in plant feed additives. This study was designed to assess the production performance of broiler chickens fed on graded levels of<em> Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> powder in drinking water. A total of 448 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to seven treatment groups with 4 replicates of 16 birds each (08 males and 08 females). <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> root was grounded and incorporated at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 g/L of drinking water. Control rations consisted of diet without any supplement (T0) and antibiotic (1 g/kg) medicated diet (T0+). Throughout the experimental period (49 days) feed intake was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by graded levels of <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana </em>except for 5 g/L of water that significantly (p < 0.05) decreased feed intake. Weight gain was significantly higher (p < 0.05) with 1, 2 and 3 g/L, while feed conversion ratio was significantly lower (p < 0.05) with the same treatments compared to the control group (T0). Chickens fed on 1 g <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em>/L recorded a higher (p < 0.05) carcass yield compared to the control ration (T0). Haematological parameters were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected irrespective of the level of incorporation of the test spice in drinking water. Serum content in urea was significantly lower (p < 0.05) with 3 g <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em>/L compared to all other treatments. ASAT, ALAT, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL-cholesterol were not significantly affected by the inclusion of<em> Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> powder in drinking water. Feeding chickens with up to 4 g of<em> Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> significantly increased (p < 0.05) lactic acid bacteria count. E. coli and salmonella counts significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with the spice in water as compared to the control diet. In conclusion, the administration of up to 3 g of <em>Pentadiplandra brazzeana</em> powder through drinking water can be used as alternative to antibiotics to improve growth performance of broiler chickens.
