ABSTRACT
Two hundred and forty
14-day old broiler birds were used in a study conducted to investigate the
physiological response of boiler birds to oral supplementation with aloe vera
gel and neem leaf extracts. In experiment one, one hundred and twenty 14- day old
broilers were used to assess the physiological response of the broiler birds to
oral supplementation with alovera gel extract, while in experiment two, one
hundred and twenty 14- day old broilers were used to assess the physiological
response of the broiler birds to oral supplementation with neem leaf extract.
The birds of both sexes were randomly allotted into five treatment groups of 24
birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD) in both experiments.
Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 received ordinary water, Vitaltye, 10, 20, and 30%
of each of the two extracts, respectively. Results obtained in experiment one
showed that there were significant (p<0.05) differences in final body
weight, feed conversion ratio, average cost/kg gain and mortality rate. Birds
on T4(20%AVGE) had the lowest feed conversion ratio(3.09) and lower average
cost of feed per kg gain(N308.67) than others with feed conversion ratio [
T1(3.36), T2(3.46),T3(3.21) and T5(3.18), and average cost of feed per kg gain
[T1((N336.33), T2(N345.67), T5(N317.66), respectively. There were significant
(p<0.05)differences among treatments in packed cell volume, red blood cells,
hetrophil, lymphocyte, moncyte, eosnoohil, and basophil. There were also significant (p<0.05) differences among
treatments in crude protein, ether extract and nitrogen free ether retained;
significant differences existed among treatments in total protein, albumin
globulin, glucose, creatine, cholesterol and calcium. Live body weight, dressed
weight (%LW), head, gizzard, empty gizzard, shank, heart, liver, kidney,
abdominal fat, lungs, and large intestine were significantly affected by
treatments. However, there were no significant (p<0.05) differences among
treatments in average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake, daily water
intake, protein efficiency ratio, white blood cell, dry matter retained,
dressed weight(kg), and small intestines. Birds that received neem leaf extract
(T4 and T5) showed progressive increase in final body weight (3.42kg and
3.70kg, respectively) compared to the control (3.14kg) and T2 [(vitalyte)
(3.39kg)]. Birds on T5(30%NLE) had the lowest feed conversion ratio(2.85) and
lower average cost of feed per kg gain(N284.67) than others which had feed
conversion ratio of 3.48 (T1), 3.21 (T2), 3.29 (T3) and 3.15 (T4), and average
cost of feed per kg gain as follows:T1(N347.67), T2(321.00), and T4(N315.33).
There were significant (p<0.05) differences among treatments in packed cell
volume, red blood cells, hetrophil, lymphocyte, moncyte, eosnoohil, and basophil.
Significant differences (p<0.05) also existed between treatments in the
apparent retentions of crude protein, ether extract and nitrogen free ether,
and in total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol and calcium.
There were also significant (p<0.05)differences among treatments in live
weight, dressed weight(%LW), head, gizzard, empty gizzard, shank, heart, liver,
kidney, abdominal fat, lungs, large intestine and small intestine. However,
there were no significant (p<0.05) differences among treatments in average
daily feed intake, total water intake, dry matter retained, and serum creatine.
Results showed that the levels of aloe vera gel and neem leaf extracts used in
the present study enhanced the growth performance of broiler birds, especially
at 20% and 30% inclusions.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Poultry is on the fastest means
to achieving appreciable improvement in the nutritional standard of the
populace because of its short generation interval, quick turnover rate and
relatively low capital investment (Smith, 2001; Ani and Okeke, 2011)
Nutrition is the most important
consideration in any livestock enterprise. Its survival is dependent on the
availability of feedstuffs, which are mainly components of human food. The
unavailability of grains and the high cost of imported ingredients have made
the price of commercial animal feed to increase over 300%. These problems
remain the most important constraints to the expansion of commercial poultry
production in Nigeria.
The high cost of conventional
feedstuff has already sent a lot of livestock farmers out of business, thus leading
to reduction in overall animal protein production and availability for humans
dietary’s need. The provision of feed alone has been reported to account for
60-80% of total cost of livestock production in developing countries alone
(Igboeli, 2000; Esonu, 2006). In view of this, there is increased interest by
poultry farmers on the search for non conventional feed ingredients that could
be cheaper such as leaf and seed meals of ethno medicinal plants (Okoli et al.,
2001, 2002). The use of various plant extracts in broiler production has been
documented (Essien et al; 2007; Nworgu et al 2007; Galib and Noor, 2010). One
way is to look for alternative source of feed supplement that is not only cheap
and could boost the growth of chickens but organic and readily available.
In an effort to develop new
feedstuff for animal feeding, a number of researchers have investigated the
proximate composition of neem seed cake (Bawa et al.,
2006; Uko and Kamalu, 2001), leaf meal (Oforjindu, 2006; Esonu et al.,
2005, 2006; Ogbuewu et al., 2010a,
b) and
its use as feedstuff in poultry (Esonu et al.,
2005; Oforjindu, 2006; Uko and Kamalu, 2007) and rabbits (Sokunbi and Egbunike,
2000a; Ogbuewu, 2008). Result of proximate analysis of neem showed that of had
92.42% dry matter, 7.58% moisture, 20.68% crude protein, 16.60% crude fibre,
4.13% ether extract, 7.10% ash and 43.91% nitrogen free extract (Esonu et al.,
2005; Oforjindu, 2006; Ogbuewu, 2008).
Neem
cake has also been widely used as animal feed (Bawa et al.,
2006; Uko and 2007). Despite the bitter components, poultry consume diets
containing varied percentage of neem cake. Alkali treatment of neem
cake with caustic soda yields palatable product, by removing the toxicant
triterpenoids (Devakumar and Dev, 1993). Nagalakshmi et al.
(1996) and Verma et al. (1998) reported
beneficial effect of alkali treated (10-20 g NaOH) neem kernel cake incorporated
into poultry feeds. It resulted to an increased feeding value and protein
utilization with spectacular growth. However, no significant difference was
observed among the different dietary groups in feed intake, egg production, egg
quality, fertility, hatchability and chick weight (Nagalakshmi et al.,
1996; Verma et al. 1998).
Neem oil and de-oiled neem seed
cake are used as animal feed. Neem oil which is rich in long chain fatty acids
is used in poultry feed. Deoiled neem seed cake is rich in essential amino
acids, crude proteins, fiber contents, sulphur and nitrogen (Uko and Kamalu,
2007
Aloe vera (Aloe
barbadensis) belongs to the family of lily; It
is spiky, succulent, and perennial. It is native to the eastern and southern
part of Africa but it has spread throughout the warmer regions of the world
like the Philippines. Physically, it is a short-stemmed plant that could grow
from 80 to 100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are
lanceolate, thick and fleshy with thorny edges and with color ranging from deep
green to greygreen.
It is ubiquitous in almost
every house garden and is either used as accents for landscaping or for its
medicinal value. Since it is easy to grow and maintain, it is widely used as
natural ground cover or container. Aloe vera is not only a natural healer; it’s
also a growth enhancer in poultry. Hearing that, one might think, it’s too good
to be true. Essentially, the leaves of aloe vera are often for external uses
only, they are not meant to be taken in. But with the study of Bejar and
Colapo, it’s now clear that it’s safe for animal intake. Thus, it is important
to know what’s in the aloe vera that makes it both a natural healer and a
growth promoter in chickens.
Physically, the leaf of an aloe
vera is composed of three layers. The first layer contains a clear gel, which
is contained within the cells of the inner portion. Then there is the
anthraquinones contained in the bitter yellow sap of the middle leaf layer and
the fibrous outer part of the leaf that serves a protective function.
The
content of the aloe vera leaf is just 0.5 – 1.5% solid, with an average pH
value of 4.55.
This
solid material contains over 75 different nutrients including vitamins and
minerals.
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins
and minerals. Specific vitamins include: Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene), Vitamin B1
(Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5, Vitamin
B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Choline, and Folic Acid.
The vitamins A, C, and E are responsible for the aloe’s antioxidant activity
while vitamin B and choline are involved in amino acid metabolism and vitamin
B12 is required for the production and development of blood cells.(source Rita
dela cruz of www.bar.gov.ph)
Among the important minerals
found in aloe vera are: calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese,
potassium, phosphorous, sodium, and zinc. These minerals are essential for good
health and are known to work in synergistic combinations with each other, with
vitamins and other trace elements. . (source Rita dela cruz of www.bar.gov.ph
Aside from vitamins and
minerals, aloe vera is rich with enzymes (help the breakdown of food sugars and
fats), hormones (aid in healing and antiinflammatory activities), sugars (i.e.
glucose and fructose that provide antiinflammatory activity), anthraquinones or
phenolic compounds (aid absorption from gastro-intestinal tract and have
antimicrobial and pain killing effects), lignin (increases the blood
circulation), saponins (provide cleansing and antiseptic activity), sterols
(antiseptic and analgesic), amino acids (basic building blocks of proteins in
the production of muscle tissue), and salicylic acid (works as a pain
killer)(source: T. Rita dela cruz of www.bar.gov.ph).
Although the use of various
plant extracts in broiler production has been documented, there is paucity of
information on the growth and physiological response of broiler birds to oral
supplementation with aloe vera and neem leaves extracts.
1.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.
Achieving maximum health and
performance of poultry requires nutritionally balanced diets. One of the common
issues with regard to back yard flocks relates to poor or inadequate feeding
programs that can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the birds. Since
vitamins and minerals are very important to normal physiological functioning of
birds, inadequate supply of these nutrients will pose a serious problem to
birds. It is also costly to use commercial produced vitamins hence increasing
the cost of poultry production.....
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