Diets supplemented with Allium sativum and Syzyginum aromaticum improved growth performance and haematological indices in grower broiler chickens

Abstract

Dietary supplements aside aiding in the supply of adequate amount of essential nutrients, also help to improve overall health and management of some health conditions. Day old Anak broiler chicks (125 in number), were raised and randomly grouped into seven treatments (i.e. T1-T7) at the age of five weeks. Therefore, this study sought to assess the potential of Allium sativum and Syzyginum aromaticum blend as supplement in broiler chicken’s diet, and how it affects their performances and haematological parameters A hundred and five (105) raised grower broilers of mixed sexes were grouped into seven treatments (T1-T7) consisting of fifteen (15) birds in each treatment. To treatments T1 – T5, A. sativum and S. aromaticum blend was supplemented at 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0g kg1־ while 5.0gkg-1 and 2.0gkg-1 of A. sativum and S. aromaticum alone were supplemented to T6 andT7 respectively. Phyto-components such as: alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phenols, terpenoids, anthraquinones and tannins were revealed to be present after the screening of both spices. Substantial amounts (mg) of alkaloids (6.92 ± 0.05), tannins (5.20 ± 0.03), saponins (4.10 ± 0.03), flavonoids (2.28 ± 0.03) and anthraquinones (1.50 ± 0.00) were also detected during the quantitative phytochemical screening of the A. sativum and S. aromaticum cocktail. Also high amount (mg) of oligosaccharides (49.1 ± 2.20), fibre (20.3 ± 0.91), fats (11.9 ± 1.05) and ash (4.8 ± 0.21) were detected in S. aromaticum. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in the treatments was observed to be higher when compared with the control. The red blood cell (RBC) in the treatments does not differ significantly (p≤ 0.05) with the control, while the haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) values determined was significantly higher in the groups supplemented with the spices. Compared with treated groups, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly higher in the control. No significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was observed in the total white blood count (TWBC) and its differentials, between the control and treated groups. Platelet counts PLC was significantly higher (p≤ 0.05) in the treated groups in comparison to the control. Conclusively, the potentials to improve the bird’s performance and haematological indices by these spices has been confirmed in this study.