Abstract
<p>A 56-day trial was conducted on 140 day-old broiler chicks fed graded levels of Alphamune G (0.00, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.06%) in a completely randomized design. Feed intake and weight gain were significantly influenced (P&lt;0.05) by the inclusion levels of Alphamune G. Bird fed 0.00% and 0.02% Alphamune had the highest and lowest feed intake, respectively. There was no significant difference in the feed intake, weight gain and feed to gain ratio of broiler birds fed 0.04 and 0.05% Alphamune G. Birds fed Alphamune at 0.04 and 0.05% had the best feed to gain ratio. Broiler chicks fed 0.04% of Alphamune G had the highest fibre, fat and ash retention (68.70, 77.46, and 59.88%, respectively). There was no significant difference (P&gt;0.05) in the carcass characteristics of birds fed different graded levels of Alphamune G. Haematological parameters show no significant difference among levels of Alphamune G. Serum biochemical values did not show any significant effect except for cholesterol, creatinine and uric acid. Alphamune G at 0.04% inclusion in diets may help improve performance of broiler chicken.</p>
Highlights
The practice of feeding livestock with sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics has been in use for a long period (Bolu et al, 2009; Ibekwe et al, 2000; Oluyemi & Oyagade, 1998)
There was no significant difference in the feed intake, weight gain and feed to gain ratio of broiler birds fed 0.04 and 0.05% Alphamune G
Use of antibiotics has been implicated in having negative effects on animal health and human consumers (Bent & Jesen 2004; Muir, 1998; Noh, 1997)
Summary
The practice of feeding livestock with sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics has been in use for a long period (Bolu et al, 2009; Ibekwe et al, 2000; Oluyemi & Oyagade, 1998). New concepts aimed at promoting animal health, growth performance, feed efficiency and product quality has been developed (Sims et al, 2004). Example of such concepts involves the use of probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic and phytobiotic additives. Alphamune G exhibits a pre-biotic effect, as a feed supplement, it has been reported to improve the performance and immune-competence of animals (Huff, 2006; Bolu et al, 2009). Alphamune supplementation in pig’s diet has been reported to improve performance compared to salinomycin (an Antibiotic Growth Promoter). They recommended that further studies should be carried out to ascertain the effects of lower levels of dietary inclusions of Alphamune www.ccsenet.org/sar
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