Influence of Psidium guajava leaf meal supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal micrometry, caecal fermentative metabolites and microbiota of broiler chickens

Abstract

Present study was conducted to assess the effect of condensed tannins (CT) containing Psidium guajava leaf meal (PGLM) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal micrometry, caecal fermentative metabolites and microbiota of broiler chickens. Total 240 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 4 dietary treatments (T0, Tt, T2 and T3), with 4 replicates of 15 chicks in each pen in a completely randomized block design for a period of 42 days. Chicks were fed basal diets supplemented with PGLM at the rate of 15, 25 and 35 g/kg, respectively in Tt, T2 and T3 groups, while, T0 group fed only basal diet. Growth performance parameters viz. feed (g) and water (ml) intakes, and weight gains (g) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in supplemented groups as compared to control. The PGLM supplementation significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). Nutrients intake, digestibility and their retention were statistically similar among treatment groups, except intake and digestibility of CF. Intake of CF was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 and T3 as compared to T0 and Tt, whereas, CF digestibility found to be lowest in T2 and T3 and highest in T0. Though, PGLM supplementation significantly (P<0.001) reduced E. coli, Clostridia counts, pH and ammonia (NH3) levels and significantly (P<0.001) increased Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli (log CFU/g) counts in the caecal contents. The PGLM supplementation significantly improved intestinal micrometry (villus height and crypt depth) and gut health. It may be concluded that PGLM supplementation (up to 25 g/kg) in the diet of broiler chicken is a natural alternative growth promoter, modulator of intestinal micrometry and beneficial micro-flora, without affecting nutrients utilization.