Abstract
A total of Three hundred and seventy five (375) one day old (Ross 308) broiler chicks with mixed sex were used to examine the effects of Albizia lebbeck stem bark (ATSM) aqueous extract as alternative to antibiotic feed additives in broiler chicks diets: haematology, serum biochemical indices and oxidative status. Birds were divided to five treatments with five replicates of fifteen (15) birds in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 (basal diet + 0 % ATSM), treatment 2 (basal diet +1.2 grams Oxytetracycline per litre of water), treatment 3 (basal diet + 10 ml ATSM per liter of water), treatment 4 (basal diet + 20 ml ATSM per litre of water) and treatment 5 (basal diet + 30 ml ATSM per liter of water) and the trial lasted for 56 days. Results on some haematological parameters revealed that red blood cell (RBC), pack cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC) and its differentials were significantly ((P<0.05) different among the treatments. Total protein, glucose, urea, cholesterol, creatinine, aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly ((P<0.05) affected by ATSM. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and malonyldialdehyde (MLA) were significantly influenced by ATSM (P<0.05). It was concluded that ATSM could be administered to broiler chicks at 30 ml/litre without any negative effect on the general performance of birds.
Highlights
Phytogenics are heterogeneous group of feed additives emanating from plants and consists of herbs, fruit, spices and other plant parts [1]
Most medicinal plants have been found to be abundant in minerals, vitamins, amino acid and bioactive chemicals [phytochemicals] [5]
One of the numerous plant used for therapeutic purposes is Albizia lebbeck
Summary
Phytogenics are heterogeneous group of feed additives emanating from plants and consists of herbs, fruit, spices and other plant parts [1]. According to Veershari, et al [2], there are over 100, 000 species of plants used globally for medicinal purposes, many have been used in the form of therapy for livestock among resource poor smallholder farmers to treat variety of conditions of animals [3, 4]. Most medicinal plants have been found to be abundant in minerals, vitamins, amino acid and bioactive chemicals [phytochemicals] [5]. Nutrients in plants have great influence on responses of animals to a disease challenge and it has a direct correlation to the immune system [7]. One of the numerous plant used for therapeutic purposes is Albizia lebbeck
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