A PROJECT PROPOSAL PRESENTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal
nutrition, especially poultry is facing a reduced acceptance due to the
appearance of residues and resistant strains of bacteria.
But today, herbal agents could serve as safe
alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters due to their suitability and preference
of the broiler meat consumers, reduced risks, and minimal health hazards.
Natural
feed additives of plant origin are generally believed to be safer, healthier
and less subject to hazards for humans and animal. Many herbs and plant
extracts have antimicrobial activities and antioxidant properties which make
them useful as natural animal feed additives (Faixova and faix 2008).
There is an increase interest in the
use of natural antioxidants such as Rosemary (Rosemarinus officianalis) and
Thymus vulgaris. Rosemary, belongs to a lamilacease family and is known for its
anti oxidative properties used for flavouring foods and beverages, several
pharmaceutical applications.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus official) is
also used as a stimulating effects of digestion, antiparasictic and antibacterial
on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium (Cabuk et al., 2003) and antifungal (Solimon and Badea 2002).
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a plant
that possesses antioxidant properties (Seung et at., 2004) and belongs to family of Lamiaceae, with the main
components of phenols, thymol (40%) and carvacrol (15%). It is used
traditionally for several medicinal purposes: Respiratory diseases, Antimicrobial,
Antinomciceptive.
Thymol and carvacrol are the main
antibacterial active substances and the product of thyme extraction are thyme
oil extract which contain approximately 15% essential oil (soluble in alcohol)
and the thyme water extract (soluble in water).
Essential oil is extracted from
fresh or partially dried flowering tops and leaves of the plant by water or
steam distillation providing a yield of 1.0% (Evas et al., 2001)
The compounds which comprise the
essential oil of thymus vulgaris have been identified as phenollic compounds
such as thymol (44.4-58.1%), carvacro (2.4-4.2%) and terpipene (6.9-18.9%) and
these compounds have strong antibacterial effects (Baranauskiene et al., 2003) and are also found in the
extracted water soluble fraction of
thyme.
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
(1) To
determine the effects of different plant extracts (Rosemary and Thyme) on the
performance of broiler.
(2) To
investigate the effect of Rosemary and Thyme on the haematological and serum
biochemistry of finisher birds.
(3) To
evaluate economics of production of finisher broilers fed with thyme and Rosemary
extracts.
JUSTIFICATION
Studies have shown that the use of
antibiotics and some organic acids as growth promoters in livestock production
has a big side effect on human consumption.
On this, the best way of solving the
problems facing the livestock farmers and the consumers is on the use of
natural feed additives of plant origin, examples Rosemary and Thyme extract.
Some experiments conducted on plant extract have shown
that they play a vital roles in maintaining human health and improving the
quality of human life (Osman et al.,
2005), their antimicrobial effects and stimulating effects on animal digestive
system, their rapid gain, higher production and better feed efficiency (Sabra
and Metha, 1990).
This arose my interest to go on
research on the importance of plant extracts and their effects on performance of
the broilers.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 FEEDS
AND FEEDSTUFFS IN POULTRY PRODUCTION
Global consumption of poultry products especially
poultry meat, has consistently increased over the years. The global demand for
poultry products will be in developing countries and such growth in the poultry
industry is having a profound effect on the demand for feed and raw materials.
The requirements for the four
traditional feed ingredients such as maize, soy bean meal, fishmeal and meat
meal is becoming clear but cannot be met even according to optimistic
forecasts. A wide rage of alternative feedstuffs are available for feeding in
the three poultry production systems and the greatest potential for efficiently
utilizing of these feedstuffs will be in tradition poultry systems (scavenging
and backyard) and the semi commercial system.
In the semi – commercial system,
only part of the feed requirement is purchased from commercial compounders, so
there is opportunity for on farm mixing or dilution of purchased feeds with
locally available and alternative feedstuffs.
2.1 NON
– TRADITIONAL FEEDSTUFFS
Alternative feedstuffs are often
referred as “non-traditional feedstuffs” because they are not normally used in
commercial animal diets. Some feedstuffs may have started as non – traditional,
but are now being used increasingly in commercial diets, example palm kennel
meal, which is a non-traditional feedstuff in Western Africa.
It is recognized that in a
developing African and Asian countries, the existing feed resources in many
circumstances are either unutilized and wasted or used in efficiently and these
alternative feedstuffs have obvious potential but their use has been negligible
owing to constraints imposed by Nutritional technical and socio – economic
factors.
The major criteria that determines
the regular use of feedstuff in commercial diets are as follows:
-
It must be
available in economic quantities, even if its availability is seasonal
-
The price must be
competitive against the main feedstuff
-
Its nutritive
value must be understood, including its nutrient content, existing variation
and nutrient digestibility.
Energy supplements feed:
It
is advisable to offer small amounts of grains such as millets, maize and
sorghum as energy supplements as well, small and damaged tubers and roots of
cassava, sweet potatoes and yams, which are unfit for human consumption are
available in many areas and could be processed into a high energy animal feed.
Residues from the production of
fermented cassava products can also be useful energy supplements and a number
of locally available fruit by products can as well be used to provide energy,
example banana peels.
Protein
supplements feed:
Green
materials are the cheapest sources of protein available to poultry and a wide
range of materials are available, which include herbs, fodders leaves, examples
Leucaena, Calliandra, Sesbania leaves from cultivated plants, example cassava
and aquatic plants, example Azolla, water hyacinth, Duckweed.
The advantage in using green
materials is their high dry matter yields, which can be harvested and fed
directly to poultry in fresh form. The green materials are also rich in
pigments, vitamins and minerals,
Minerals and Vitamin Supplements Feed:
The scavenging birds have a great
opportunity to balance their own micronutrient requirements. The minerals and
vitamins are often provided from organic and non-organic materials pecked from
the environment by the birds. Examples include snail shells, insects, fruits
and fresh green material.
2.2 Ban of Antibiotics
Antibiotics
as growth promoters have a long side effects on products like microbial
resistance and increase of the blood cholesterol level in the livestock which
lead to the ban of the antibiotics.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has banned certain uses of Cephalosporins in food producing animals like
cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys. The use of antibiotics in food producing
animals, whether for treatment, disease prevention or growth promoters, allows
resistant bacteria and resistance genes to develop and spread from those
animals to humans through the food chain.
The ban of antibiotics is to protect
health of both humans and animals according to Micheal R. Taylor, the Deputy Commissioner
for Food and Drug administration. The food and Drug administration said that
the reason for the ban is to preserve the effectiveness of Cephalosporin drugs
for food producing animals that have not been approved for use in those animals
for instance; some Cephalosporins are approved only for treating humans or
companion animals and to prevent disease in the food producing animals.
2.3 Thyme
and Rosemary:
Thyme (thymus vulgaris) a perennial
shrub, which belongs to the Labiatae family of shrubs that grows up to 15cm to
30cm in height. Thyme has a dark lilac flowers and tiny green leaves.
According to aronmatherapy, the
aroma of Thyme is pervasive, persistent, strong and has a powerful disinfectant
and bactericidal effects, which are helpful in preventing infections and have
been used as a herbal remedy for many other ailments. Thyme is also called
Banajwain in Hindi. Thyme has been recognized for its miraculous medicinal
benefits in patients suffering from lung disorders. According to Galen, the
Greek physician and philosopher, thyme is use for people suffering from Joint
disorders and he also considered thyme as the most powerful antiseptic.
Rosemary herb (Rosematinus
Officianlis), also known as the herb of love, is a perennial herb mostly grown
as an ornamental plant. Rosemary is well known for its herbal and therapeutic
properties and its oil is now being used for various purposes.
It is one of the most fragrant
herbs, most popularly used as incense. Biologically, rosemary extract improved
feed conversion efficiency of broiler fed diet supplemented with rosemary herb
(Singletar and Rokusek, 1997)
2.4 Origin and important or thyme and
Rosemary thyme existence is quiet unknown some historians believe that it wad
Romas who introduced thyme in England and some say that thyme began from North
of Alps between 850 and 1250.
In 16th century, thyme was cultivated
everywhere in the world. Neumann, the German chemist, was the first person who
extracted the essential oil of thyme in year 1725. thyme is stillin use for
various pharmaceutical, cosmetic preparations, natural and alternative
medicine.
Rosemary originated from the Mediterranean.
2.5 Important of thyme and Rosemary
The essential oil of thyme has
antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
- Inhalation of thyme oil has
expectorant effect, flu of the bronchial origin.
- Thyme essential oil massage tones the
skin
- Thyme essential oil inhalation
stimulates appetite.
- thyme
is anti-fungal herb
- Medicinal use of thyme essential oil
helps the body’s immune system.
- Rosemary when in used in teas, meat
substitutes or as a marinade, it add flavor to the food and improves digestive
health, cures disorders related to the digestive system like constipation and
diarrhea.
- rosemary herb is abundant in vitamin
E which helps in fighting against free radicals rosemary herb is known to have
cancer prevention which is an important health benefit and the use of rosemary
leaves in culinary has proven to reduce the risk of the development of cancer
like colon caner and lung cancer.
- Rosemary oil is an important
aromatherapy and have properties that are excellent in relaxing musdes,
relieving stress, tension, anxiety, and in treatment and cure of insomnia if
use as a massage oil for head and back.
- Rosemary oil is beneficial as a hair
oil and can be used to treat hair problems like thinning hair, hair loss and
Dandrug.
- Rosemary is used in treatment of
asthma and other respiratory disorders.
- Rosemary stimulates the central
nervous system and circulation for low blood pressure and sluggishness.
- rosemary oil and rosemary extract
essential oil are used to alleviate the pain of sprains, arthritis, sciatica
and neuralgia and as well a way to stabilize and extend the shelf life of
cosmetics, creams, lotions and other herbal compounds.
2.6 Haematology
and serum Biochemistry.
Blood samples were randomly samples were randomly
collected from two birds form each treatment on the last day of the experiments
in the morning hour. 2mls was collected into a treated bottle with ethylene Diamine tetre acetic acid
(EDTA) labeled coated for hematological assay.
The Blood samples were analyzed and the following
haematological parameters were determined, packed cell volume (PCV) haemoglobin
content (HB), Red Blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC).
2.7 Serum
Biochemistry: Serum was separated from the blood samples centrifugation at
400 RPM for 15 minutes and there after stored at-20oC. An minutes
and there after stored at -20oC. An auto-analyzer was used to
determine the concentration of serum protein, albumin, globulin and urea. All
analysis followed the procedure described by Jerry et al.
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
EXPERIMENTAL SITE
This
experiment/ study was carried out at the poultry unit of Animal Science
Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources management, Ebonyi
State University Abakaliki.
SOURCES AND PREPARATION OF THE EXTRACTS:
Thyme and Rosemary leaves was purchased
from Abakaliki main market, 200g of thyme and rosemary leaves each was used for
the extraction.
Thyme and Rosemary aqueous extract was
prepared by soaking the ground thyme and rosemary in water for 24 hours, then
filtered. The homogenous extract was store in the refrigerator, from there it was
served to the birds on daily bases according to treatments.
EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL AND MANAGEMENT
A total of sixty five day old
broilers chicks were used. The birds were brood in deep litter system, where light
was supplied to them (kerosene stoves, lantern) or electricity to provide the
necessary heat needed to maintain their body temperature. At the 5th
week, sixty (60) birds were randomly assigned to four treatments in a
completely randomized design.
Each treatment was replicates three
(3) times with five (5) birds per replicate. Feed and water was provided ad
libitum throughout the experimental period of 5 weeks.
Other routine poultry management
procedures which include daily inspection of birds for symptoms of diseases,
mortality, cleaning of troughs and fresh feed was maintained.
EXPERIMENTAL DIET
Commercial broiler starter diet was used
for the experiment. The birds were served 0.4ml thyme extract / liter of water
(T2), 0.4ml rosemary extract / liter of water (T3) and a
combination of 0.4ml thyme and rosemary extract / liter of water (T4)
respectively. Treatments one (T1) was served 0.0ml extract
(control). This was served daily.
PARAMETERS TO BE EVALUATED
1. Weight gain
2. Feed intake
3. Feed conversion ratio
4. Hematology and serum biochemical
indices
5. Economics of production.
3.3 WEIGHT
GAIN: Before the experiment starts,
the birds were weighed to obtain their initial body weight. Then the birds were
weighed on weekly basis subsequently.
Weight gain = initial body weight-final body weight.
DAILY BODY WEIGHT: It was body weight gain per number of days the
experiment lasted.
3.5 FEED
INTAKE: A weighed quantity of feed was
given to the birds per replicate in the morning. The left over was collected and
weighed every morning. Feed intake was then determined by subtracting the left
over form the quantity given the previous day.
3.5 FEED
CONVERSION RATION: The feed
conversion ratio was determined by feed intake daily per weight gain.
WATER INTAKE: A measured quantity of water was given to the birds
per replicate daily, and same amount of water measured was left in a separate
drinker to determined the rate of evaporation after which, the left over was
weighed and water intake was equally weighed and recorded.
Water intake was determined by
adding the amount of water evaporated to the atmosphere and the left over and
then substrate it from the water served.
PROTEIN EFFICIENCY RATIO
The daily protein intakes of the
birds was obtained. Protein efficiency ratio was determined by using the values
of daily protein intakes obtained to divide the daily weight gain of the birds.
HAEMATOLOGY INDICES:
At the end of the experiment, 2mls
of blood sample was collected from two (2) birds in each treatment for the evaluation
of haematological indices. The blood sample was collected through the wing
veins using sterile needle and syringes.
The blood sample was done in the
morning hour to avoid too much bleeding. The collection site was swabbed with
alcohol cotton wool.
The blood sample was collected into
a sample bottle containing dispotassium salt of ethylene diamine tetracetic
acid (EDTA-K2+) which was then served as anticoagulant.
The blood sample was analyzed for
packed cell volume (PCU), total erythrocyte (RBC) hemoglobin (Hb) and
differential leucocytes (WBC) count according to the methods described by vein
(1984). Erythrocyte (RBC) count was done in a haemoctometer chamber with Natt
and Hardrics dilvents to obtain 1:200 dilution. The number of leucocytes will
be estimated as total WBC x 200
Packed cell volume (PVC) was measured
as micro haematocrit with 75 x 16 cm capillary tubes filled with blood and
centrifuge at 300 R.P.M A 5 minutes.
The differential count of leucocytes
was made from blood, stained with wrights dye and each type of cell counters
with laboratory counter.
Hemoglobin concentration (H.B.C)
level was calculated according to Bush (1991) mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
was also calculated according to standard formula deduced by Schalm et al., (1975) and Jaiin (1986) as shown
below
MCV = PCV
x 10
RBC count (M106/mm3)
MCH = Hb
(g1d1) x10
RBC (M106/mm3)
MCHC = Hb(g1d1)x100
PCV%
SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY:
Blood
samples 2mls 4 serum biochemical was collected and put in a vial bottle without
an anticoagulant. The serum protein albumin, Globulin and Urea were analyzed
using sigma kits according to (Igene and Oboh, 2004).
ECONOMICS FOR PRODUCTION
A cost benefit analysis was carried
out for the four treatments to ascertain whether thyme and Rosemary in the
water have some economic benefits. The cost of production includes the cost of
feeding, buying of the birds, labour, medication and vaccination. The revenue is
being based on N950.00 per kg live weight of birds.
The following parameters were
obtained feed cost/feed consumed/bird/Treatment.
= Total cost of feed (N)
Total cost of consumed (kg)
Feed
cost (NKg) weight gain / bird treatment
= Total cost of feeding (N)
Total weight gain (kg)
Total
weight x No of birds x Cost per kg live weight.
Net
return (N) = total revenue generated – total cost of production.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
All the data collected was subjected
to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) Stell and Torie, 1978) significant
difference between treatment means was separated using the New Duncan Multiple
range test as outlined by Obi (2002).
EXPERIMENTAL MODEL
The
experimental model that was adopted is the linear additive model for completely
randomized design experiment which is given as follows:
Xij = m + ti + Sij
Where
Xij = Individual
observation taken
m = The population or overall mean
ti = Treatment
effect
Sij = Experimental error or residual
i = Number
of treatment
j = Number
of replicate.
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