Abstract Full Text:PDF Recommended articles Mail to Author How to Cite

¹ Animal Science Department. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria
² Department of Agricultural Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
³ Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Nigeria
⁴ Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria
⁵ Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
⁶ Department of Biochemistry, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria DOI : 10.34233/jpr.1205727 - This 42-day study evaluates the broiler chickens' response to dietary supplementation with Anacardium occidentale leaf powder (ALP) and a mix of prebiotic, probiotic and acidifier (PPA). Two baseline diets were compounded for the starter phase (age 1-21 days) and finisher phase (age 22-42 days) and divided into four parts: Diet 1(control), Diet 2 (250mg/kg PPA), Diet 3 (2,500mg/kg ALP), and Diet 4 (250mg/kg PPA+2,500mg/kg ALP). 240 Cobb 500 broiler chicks were distributed randomly to the experimental diets (6 replicates/diet; 10 birds/replication). The relative growth rate of the birds fed diets 3, and 4 were similar (P>0.05) to those fed diet 2; but higher (P<0.05) than those fed diet 1. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cells were improved (P<0.05) by the dietary supplements. Meat catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities dressed weight and gut lactic acid-producing bacteria improved (P<0.05) by the treatments. Meat cholesterol level was reduced (P<0.05) by diet. Conclusively, 250mg/kg PPA and 2,500 mg/kg ALP improved the growth rate, dressed weight, erythrogram values, and gut`s lactic acid-producing bacteria population, meat catalase, meat glutathione peroxidase of the broiler chickens. Keywords : Blood Growth Meat Oxidative status Phyto-supplements