The synergetic effects of some phytobiotics mix on growth, hematology and microbial loads of broiler chickens.

This study investigated the growth and health-promoting effectiveness of three medicinal plants (black cumin, fenugreek, and turmeric) on broilers. A total of 270 (Cobb 500) day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments: basal diet (T0), basal diet + oxytetracycline (T1), basal diet + black cumin and fenugreek (T2), basal diet + black cumin and turmeric (T3), basal diet + fenugreek and turmeric (T4), basal diet + black cumin, fenugreek and turmeric (T5). BWG and ADG had no differences (p ≥ 0.05) between T5 and antibiotics-fed birds. Phytobiotic supplemented birds (T2, T3, T4, and T5) had lower feed intake and higher FCR (T3 and T5) than controls T0 and T1 (p ≤ 0.05). Comparable (p ≥ 0.05) RBC counts were observed between birds fed phytobiotics (T2 and T4) and fed an antibiotic (T1), likewise, there were no (p ≥ 0.05) differences between T0 and birds fed phytobiotics (T3 and T5). A mixture of phytobiotics (T2, T4, and T5) outperformed in lowering total coliform and E. coli bacteria in the cecum than antibiotics (p ≤ 0.05). A mixture of the three phytobiotics can replace commercial antibiotics and have a favorable effect on broiler growth and health by safeguarding human health from the negative effects of antibiotic residue in broiler products.

Protein supplement potential of Dodonaea angustifolia leaves by replacing atella on nutrient utilization and performance of Farta sheep fed natural pasture hay basal diet.

BACKGROUND: Protein feed resources for ruminant animal productions are deficit in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the supplementation effects of dried Dodonaea angustifolia leaves (DDL), dried traditional brewery by-product locally called atella and their mixtures on nutrient utilization and growth performance of Farta sheep fed natural pasture hay (NPH) as basal diet. METHODS: Twenty-five yearling intact male Farta sheep with average initial body weight of 14.53 ± 1.35 kg (mean ± SD) were used for the study. The experimental sheep were allocated into five blocks of five animals based on their initial body weight. The experiment lasted for 90 days of feeding trial followed by 7 days of digestibility trial. The experimental feeds were NPH ad libitum + 100% DDL + 100 g wheat bran (WB; T1), NPH ad libitum + 75% DDL + 25% dried atella + 100 g WB(T2), NPH ad libitum + 50% DDL + 50% deried atella + 100 g WB (T3), NPH ad libitum + 25% DDL +75% dried atella +100 g WB (T4) and NPH ad libitum + 100% dried atella + 100 g WB (T5). RESULTS: NPH, DDL and dried atella contained 7.42, 15.39, 21.13% crude protein (CP) and 66, 36, 34% neutral detergent fiber, respectively. Sheep supplemented with increasing level of atella had more dry matter intake (DMI) and crude protein intake (CPI) and the highest of these DMI and CPI were in T5 (868 g/d for dry matter and 113 g/d for CP). This progressive increased CPI from T1 up to T5 was reflected in a significant (p < 0.001) fibers and estimated metabolizable energy intake in the order of T5 > T4 > T3 > T2 > T1. Significant difference (p < 0.001) was recorded on nutrient utilization and the highest was for T5 and lowest for T1. Average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were significantly (p < 0.001) increased as the atella inclusion level increased. Sheep in T4 and T5 had the highest ADG and FCE with the order of T5 = T4 > T3 > T2 > T1. ADG was correlated positively and highly significant with nutrients intake and digestibility. CONCLUSION: Atella supplementation better than DDL and then their mixture (T2-T4) supplementation could be recommended in sheep fattening in the study area.