Performance, Bone Mineralization And Haematological Indices Of Broilers Fed Phytogenic Feed Additives

ABSTRACT

A 35-day experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design to determine the

efficacy of two phytogenic feed additives as veritable alternatives to antibiotics using 320 dayold

unsexed commercial Ross 308 broiler chicks. The chicks were randomly divided into four

groups of 80 birds each and assigned to four isocaloric (12.60, 13.2 and 13.4 MJ/Kg AMEn) and

isonitrogenous (25.0, 22.5 and 20.07 % CP levels) diets designated as follows: diet 1- maizesoybean

based diet without additives (negative control), diet 2- maize-soybean based diet

containing 10% tylosin (positive control), diet 3-maize-soybean based diet containing

phytonutrient (product 1) and diet 4-maize-soybean based diet containing phytonutrient (product

2). Diet 2 contained 200g/ton of antibiotics, while diets 3 and 4 contained 1L/ton each of

phytogenic feed additives. Each treatment was replicated 8 times with 10 birds per replicate.

Birds had adlib access to feed and water. At 35th day of the experiment, 8 birds per treatment,

one from each replicate pens were randomly selected, electrically stunned at 70V and killed by

cervical dislocation for meat quality, carcass and organ weights determinations. The birds had

their left and right tibias removed for bone strength and mineral assessment. Eight birds per

treatment were also randomly selected and euthanized according to standard ethical procedures

and used for assessment of haematological parameters. Inclusion of phytogenic feed additives

(products 1 and 2) resulted in significant reduction (p

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