INTRODUCTION
Natural feed
additives of plant origin are generally believed to be safer, healthier and
less subject to hazards (Ghazalah and Ali, 2008). Herbs and herbal products are
incorporated in livestock feeds instead of chemical products in order to stimulate
or promote the stimulate or promote the effective use of feed nutrients which
result in more rapid gain, higher production and better feed efficiency, moreover,
herbs contain active substances that can improve digestion, metabolism and
posses bacterial and immunostimulant action of animals (Sabra and Metha, 1990).
Its known that
the cost of feed in broiler production could reach 75% of the total operational
cost (Mohebbifar and Torki, 2011), poultry meat offers considerable potentials
for bridging the gap between supply and demand for animal protein especially in
Africa and other less developed nations (Onibi et al., 2009). The low level of supply of animal protein is to the
poor performance of livestock (Aletor, 1986), which has been attributed to
factors, such as inadequate nutrition, high price and poor quality of feed and inefficiency
in production and distribution in the feed industry (Tewe, 1997).
Several attempt
have been made in this region to reduce feed cost while improving productivity
of high – meat yielding exotic poultry like broilers chicken, these include the
use of agro – industrial by – products (Aletor, 1986), maggot meal (Awoniyi et al., 2004), leafy vegetable protein
concentrate (Agbede and Aletor, 2003) and herbaceous human haematinics (Adedapo
et al., 2002; Nworgu et al., 2007). Apart from the inadequate
supply and consumption of animal protein, there has been a resurgence of
interest in improving the physiochemical and sensory properties of meat as well
as it storage life (Onibi et al., 2009).
In pursuit of improved chicken healthiness and in order to fulfill consumers
expectation in relation to food quality, poultry producers more and more
commonly apply natural feeding supplement mainly herbs (Gardzlelewska et al., 2003.
Herbs and spices
are well known to exert antimicrobial actions in vitro against important pathogen
including fungi (Windisch et al.,
2008). Growth enhancement through the use of phytobiotics is probably the
result of the synergistic effects among complex active molecules existing in phytobiotic
(Hashemi and Davoodi, 2010), many herbs and plant extracts and which makes them
useful as natural animal feed additives (Faixova and Faix, 2008).
THYME (Thymus vulgaris L.) is an herbaceous
perennial plant belonging to the Lamiacease family, Thymol, a major component
of thyme essential oils has been widely studied for it antimicrobial properties
(Dorman and Deans, 2000). Studies showed that thyme plant could be considered as
an alternative natural growth promoter for poultry instead of antibiotics
(Mcdevitt, D. E, et al., 2007) In
addition, these phenolic compounds exhibit considerable antimicrobial and antifungicidal
activities (Basilico and Basilico, 1999). Thymol is currently used to inhibit
oral bacteria (Twetman and Peterson, 1997). Furthermore, Allen et al., (1998), Denil et al., (2004) and cros et al., (2007) reported the beneficial effects
of thyme in poultry production. This class of feed additives has recently
gained increasing interest especially for use in poultry (Mohebbifar and Torki,
2011). Phytogenic feed additives are discussed possibly to add to the set of non-antibiotic
growth promoters, such as organic acids and probiotics which are already well
established in animal nutrition (Mohebbifar and Torki, 2011). Ground thyme has
been shown to inhibit the growth of S. tyhimurium when added to media (Aktug
and Karapinar, 1986) the essential oil of the thyme has been shown to inhibit
the growth of E. Coli in media (Marino et
al., 1999)
Rosemary belong
to the Lamiaceae family is well known for its antioxidative properties, is used
for flavouring foods and beverages and is also used in several pharmaceutical
applications (Umitpolat et al., 2011).
These polyphenols also have important biological activities in vitro such as
anti-tumour, chemo – preventive and anti inflammatory activities (Shuang – Sheng
and Rong – Liang, 2006), Cheung and Tai, 2007). Antioxidants effects of
aromatic plants is due to the presence
of hydroxyl group in their phenolic compound (Shahidi and Wanasundara, 1992).
It has been proposed that poly phenols from rosemary may greatly increase the
functionality of food in terms of health and wellness, it has been extensively reported
that rosemary essential oils have antimicrobial properties against a wide range
of micro-organisms, although there is little information regarding the
specificity and efficacy of non-volatile phenolic compounds such as
microbicides (Shahidi and Naczk, 2004, santoyo et al., 2005).
Rosemary
extracts (RE) have a wide range of different phenolic compounds with biological activities
eg, Carnosic acid (CA), Carnosol, rosmanol, epirosmanol (Galobart, J. et al., 2001). Carnosic acid is the most
active anti-oxidant present in rosemary extracts (RE) (Cuvelier et al., 1996; Richheimer et al.,1996; offord et al., 1997), with an anti-oxidant activities approximately three times
higher than carnosol and seven times higher than Butylated hydro oxytoluence
and butylated hydroxyanisol (Richheimer et
al., 1996). Rosemary has high amount of a rosmaric acid (Nielsen et al., 1999). Flavonoids and phenolic
acids (Ho, et al., 2000) that have antioxidant capacities. (Karpinske et al., 2000), also demonstrated that
the addition of Rosemary leaves meal extract delayed the appearance of rancidity
in poultry products. Tekeli et al.,
(2006) determined that the rosemarinus
officinalis leaves could be used to
decrease blood glucose. The efficacy of utilization of thyme and rosemary in broiler
chicks will be determined by evaluating the growth performance, hematological
and serum biochemistry and economics of production of broiler chicks fed with
dietary thyme and rosemary.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives
of this study are:
1. To determine the effects of dietary
thyme and Rosemary on the growth performance of broiler chicks.
2. To investigate the effect of dietary
thyme and rosemary on the hematological and serum biochemistry characteristic
on broiler chicks
3. To evaluate the economics of production
of broiler chicks, adding dietary thyme and rosemary on feed.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Poultry
feeding is one of the important branches of poultry science since feed cost
alone accounts for 60 – 85% of the total farm expenses, (Nwakpu, 2010). So in a
developing country like Nigeria, which are still undergoing series of changes
in animal nutrition. The low level of supply of animal protein is due to the
poor performance of livestock (Aletor, 1986), which has been attributed to
factors such as inadequate nutrition, high price and poor quality of feed and
inefficiency in production and distribution the feed industry (Tewe, 1997).
There are resultant losses in birds
performance, when they are fed low-quality feed, the resultant effects are
delay in market weight gain in broiler and high mortality rate due to disease
and malnutrition. Options advocated towards alleviating/eliminating these
problem of low quality in poultry feed, high mortality rate have included the
use of natural growth promoters such as probiotics, prebiotics or their
combination, and medicinal plants as feed medicinal plants as feed additives in
poultry diet to enhance the performance of poultry birds (Khan et al., 2010, 2011a). These materials are
nutritionally adequate and locally available as to sustain and enhance the development
of poultry industry in Nigeria.
Some of such materials that can be beneficial
to poultry feeding are thyme and rosemary. They have been found to have a
positive effect on the performance and immunity of the animals. How ever the
efficacy of utilization of dietary thyme and rosemary will be determine by
evaluating the growth performance, hematological and serum biochemical characteristics
and economics of production of broiler chicks, fed with dietary thyme and
rosemary.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental Site:
The experiment will be carried out
at the poultry unit of the teaching and research farm of the Department of Animal
Science, Ebonyi state University, Abakaliki. Which lies approximately on
latitude 7o 30E and 8o 30 E and longitude 5o
40N and 6o 45N. (Nwakpu, 2008).
SOURCE AND PROCCESSIONG OF THYME AND ROSEMARY
The thyme and rosemary to be used
for the experiment will be purchased dry, from the market, it will be measured
and ground to fine particle (powder) that will be add to the formulated broiler
starter mash feed for the experiment.
EXPERIMENTAL BIRDS AND MANAGEMENT
85 day old broiler chicks will be
purchased from any reputable commercial Hatchery. Before the arrival of the
birds, the old litter materials will be removed and the house will be washed and
disinfected, restoration of the lights, closing Opens, washing of the drinkers
and feeders and sun dry, heater, all will be made available for the birds in
the poultry house. Two hours before the arrival of the chicks, the poultry
house will be preheated.
On arrival the birds will weighted and
counted for appropriate/accurate record keeping, followed by given vitamins and
glucose in water against stress, likewise feeds on they feeders respectively,
adequate heat will also be provided following they behaviours, and feeds and
water will be made available for them in their feeders and drinkers
respectively. Before the experiment commences, the chicks will be kept to
acclimatize for 7 days. Within this period the chicks will be fed commercial
broiler starter diet and given drinking water ad libitum, on the 8th
day, 72 birds will be randomly selected and divided into 4 treatment groups in
a completely randomized design (CRD) with 18 birds each. Each treatment will be
replicated 3 times with 6 birds per replicate. Feed and water will be provided
for the birds throughout the experimental period of 4 weeks, the birds will be
housed in a deep litter compartment, ventilation and heat will be provided and
adjusted as necessary to maintain the birds comfort and body temperature. All
the necessary vaccination and other routine poultry management practices will
be maintained.
EXPERIMENTAL DIET
The dietary thyme and rosemary so
processed will be added to four experimental broiler starter diet formulated
such that Diet 1: Which will serve as the control diet which contains no
additive. Diet 2: will contain 5g of thyme per kg feed, Diet 3: will contain 5g of rosemary per kg feed
respectively. Diet 4: will contain a combination of 5g of dietary thyme and
rosemary per kg of feed.
DATA COLLECTION
Data will be
collected based on the objectives of the experiment, on the following
parameters.
FEED INTAKE
Weighed quantity
of feed, will be served to each replicate group daily. The leftover feed will
be collected the next day, weighted and recorded from this, the daily feed
intake of each replicate group will be determined by the difference between the
feed served and the leftover feed.
Feed intake = Total feed served minus leftover
:. Feed intake = total feed served
– leftover feed.
WEIGHT GAIN:
Before the
commencement of the experiment, the birds will be weighed to obtain the initial
body weight and subsequently weekly. At
the end of the experiment, the total body weight gain will be determined by subtracting
the initial body weight. The daily body weight gain will be determined by
dividing the body weight gain by the number of days of the experiment. Such
that,
Weight gain = final body weight – initial body
weight.
Daily body
weight gain = total body weight gain / number of days of experiment.
FEED CONVERSION RATIO
Feed conversion
ratio will be calculated by dividing the average daily feed intake by the
average daily weight gain.
Feed conversion
ratio (FCR) = Average daily feed
intake
Average daily weight gain
HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
At the end of
the feeding trial (4 weeks), three birds which will be randomly selected, from
each replicate group. Blood sample will be collected from the wing vein of the
birds with the aid of a Sterile hypodermic
needle, into a well labeled sterile bottle, that contains EDTA as an anticoagulant,
to evaluate /determine the following.
(a) packed cell volume (P.C.V),
(b) Red blood cell (R B C)
( c) white blood cell (WBC) counts, and hemoglobin
(H b)
SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETER
At the end of the feeding trial (4
weeks) of the experiment. Three birds will be randomly selected from each
replicate group and blood samples will also be collected using a sterile
hypodermic Needle, into a well labeled sterile bottles that didn’t contain anti
coagulant, to determine the serum biochemistry which includes. The blood
protein and cholesterol level of the blood.
ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION
A cost benefit
(gross margin) analysis will be carried out, to determine whether the dietary
thyme and rosemary inclusion on the formulated broiler starter mash/ diet, will
have some economic benefit. The cost of production will include the cost of
feed formulation, procurement of birds, vaccination/ medications, labour,
Equipments, and other exigencies and miscellaneous expenses.
Feed cost N/kg weight gain/bird/treatment
= total cost of feeding (N)
Total weight gain (kg)
Total revenue
generated = final body weight x No. of birds x cost per
kg live weight.
Net returns (N) = total revenue generated – total cost
of production
Cost benefit
ratio = total cost of production
Net returns
DATA ANALYSIS
The data that
will be collected from the experiment will be subjected to a one way analysis
of variance (ANOVA), where significant differences are observed, mean will be
separated using fisher least significant difference (F – LSD) as outlined by
Obi, (1995).
STATISTIC MODEL
Xjjk =
U + Hi + Mj + Eij
Where:
Kijk = Any
Observation made in the experiment
m =
the population mean
Hi = Effect
of type of herb (i = thyme and rosemary).
Mi = Effect
of method of feeding (j = feeding diet).
Eij = Experimental
error.
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