Nutrient Composition, Metabolites and Microbial Counts in Litter Material of Broiler Chicken Fed Condensed Tannins Containing Guava Leaf Meal Supplemented Diets: Reduce Environmental Pollution and Alternate Feedstuffs for Ruminants

ABSTRACT

Present study was conducted in 240 day-old broiler chicks to assess the effect of condensed tannins (CT) containing guava leaf meal (GLM) supplemented diet on nutrient composition, litter metabolites viz. pH, moisture and ammonia concentration) and microbial counts after completion of feeding trial of 42 days. Chicks were randomly allocated into 4 dietary treatments, with 4 replicates of 15 chicks in each pen in a completely randomized block design (CRD). Chicks were fed basal diets supplemented with GLM @ 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 percent, in T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively, while, T0 group fed only basal diet. Litter materials of chicks showed good nutrient profiles and properly sterilized litter material act as alternative feed ingredient for ruminants feed. Supplementation of GLM in the diets of chicks significantly (P<0.05) reduced moisture, pH, NH3 concentration, harmful Eschericia coli and Clostridia spp. counts in the litter materials and reduced environmental pollution. The litter material of GLM supplemented (T1, T2 and T3) chicken showed significantly higher (P<0.05) CP contents as compared to un-supplemented control. It can be concluded that properly sterilized litter material of GLM supplemented chicks act as cheaper alternative feedstuffs for ruminant’s ration and reduce environmental pollution by lowering NH3 concentration, harmful E. coli and Clostridia counts in broiler litter material: