Effect of citrus-coconut electrolyte blend on growth performance, haemato-biochemical status, organs development and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens

Abstract

In a bid to mitigate growing concerns regarding the use of antibiotics in food animals OBJECTIVES: This study determined the growth performance, haemato-biochemical status, organ development and intestinal morphology of Arbor Acre broiler chicken strain on oral administration of citrus-coconut electrolyte blend (CCEB) for 26 days. One-hundred ninety-two chicks were brooded for 2 weeks and thereafter divided on a weight equalization basis into four groups (0, 5, 10 and 15 ml CCEB per litre of water) of six replicates each and eight birds per replicate. Phytochemical screening of CCEB was determined, while data collected for growth performance, organ proportions and intestinal morphology were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance. Phytochemical composition revealed the abundance of phenols (128.40 mg/100g) and tannins (78.10 mg/100g) in CCEB. All productive performance parameters measured were not significantly (p < 0.05) different across treatment means. However, significantly (p < 0.05) highest concentrations (134.47 and 66.48 mg/dl, respectively) for total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the lowest concentration (38.34 mg/dl) for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were recorded in birds on 15 ml of CCEB/litre of water. Furthermore, a progressive reduction (p < 0.05) in the bursa of Fabricius was observed with increasing CCEB/litre of water. The supplementation of CCEB did not influence (p > 0.05) duodenal morphological parameters. The study concluded that 15 ml of CCEB/litre of water enhanced the production of HDL, reduced LDL, and improved immunity via the reduction of the bursa of Fabricius in broiler chickens.