Tannins have been reported to have antibiotic effect on consuming animals. In this study the effect of application of crude tannin extracts in drinking water of chickens in place of synthetic antibiotics on intestinal microflora and chyme pH of broiler chicken. Gliricidia sepium leaves were harvested, weighed, air-dried and milled using hammer mill. The tannins were extracted in aqueous medium as crude tannin extract (CTE) and then ad libitum 0, 12, 24, and 36mL-1 in water. Eighty-four 1- day old Abor acres chicks were randomly allotted to four treatments, three replicates in Completely Randomized Design. The birds were fed common diets and their respective water ad libitum. At week 6 the birds were slaughtered by severance of the jugular veins and the chyme pH, and the microbial populations within the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were examined. All data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The digesta pH within the ilea of broiler fed diet with CTE at 24 mL-1 in drinking water was significantly lower compare to all other groups (P>0.05). The Total bacteria count within the jejunum of birds fed 36 mL-1 was significantly lower (p>0.05) in contrast to other treatments. The coliform population in broiler fed diet with CTE at T2(12mL-1) within the jejunum was significantly lower than those fed T1(0 mL-1), T3(24 mL-1) and T4(36 mL-1) in drinking water (p>0.05). The population of Lactobacillus in jejunum of broiler fed diet with CTE at 0mL-1in drinking water was significantly higher compare to all other groups. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in total fungi count within all the intestinal segment with the exception of broiler fed with CFE at T3 (24 mL-1) in drinking water in duodena. Based on the results from this study it could be concluded that the supplementation of gliricidia crude tannin extract at 36mL-1 in drinking water reduced bacteria population in small intestine.
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