INFLUENCE OF PHYTOBIOTIC AND SYNBIOTIC-ACIDIFIER BLEND SUPPLEMENTS ON HEMATO-BIOCHEMICAL INDICES, ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES AND GUT MICROFLORA OF BROILER CHICKEN

Abstract

This study examined the effect of phytobiotic (Superliv powder®, SP) and symbiotic-acidifier blend (Bacflora-F®, BF) feed additives on hemato-biochemical indices, antioxidant enzymes, and gut microflora of broiler chicken. A total of 120-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, with three replicates of ten birds per treatment as follows, Diet 1 (basal/control diet), Diet 2 (basal + 0.05 g/kg SP), Diet 3 (basal + 1g/kg BF) and Diet 4 (basal + 0.05g/kg SP and 1g/kg BF). The result revealed significant differences (P <0.05) in values of all haematological parameters except monocyte counts. Broiler chickens fed a diet supplemented with SP and BF had higher packed cell volume, red blood cell, and haemoglobin concentration but lower white blood cells and lymphocyte count compared to the control group. The dietary supplementation of SP and BF did not influence the concentration of alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, total protein, and globulin contents (P > 0.05) but significantly reduced cholesterol levels of the broiler chicken compared to the control group. The result further showed that broiler chickens fed the diet supplemented with of SP and BF had higher (P <0.05) concentration of total glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in aerobic bacteria, lactic acid-producing bacteria and coliform bacteria (p > 0.05) count across the experimental treatments. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of SP and BF can be used to enhance the antioxidative status, reduce cholesterol levels and maintain the gut health of broiler chickens during production.