Effect of poultry feed containing synthetic antibiotic, extracts of ginger roots, garlic and black pepper seeds on body-weights and gut microbiota of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Keyword : Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Piper guineense, Gallus gallus domesticus, Body weight and Gut microbiota.
Author(s) : Obianom, A.O And Uboh, Ifiok Nse
Abstract : ABSTRACT Pathogenic microorganisms are so ubiquitous in poultry houses that famers added synthetic antimicrobial agents in poultry feeds to control infections in chickens. Public health implication of antibiotics in chicken meat and eggs has therefore necessitated the use of plant-derived antimicrobials in chicken production. This study compared the effects of poultry feed containing synthetic antibiotic, extracts of ginger roots, garlic and black pepper seeds on body-weights and gut microbiota of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Fresh ginger roots, garlic and black pepper seeds from Ihiala Market in south-eastern Nigeria were authenticated as Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Piper guineense respectively at Botany Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. The samples were each air-dried for 97 days, grinded, and extracted in 60% ethanol for 3 days, concentrated in vacuo, evaporated to dryness with water-bath at 40oC, and screened qualitatively for secondary metabolites. A total of 54 day-old broiler-chicks from Sunchi Hatchery Enugu were randomly shared into 9 groups and fed for 42 days with different feed regimens containing 400g of commercial Broiler Feeds with additive as follows: Gp1 (0.5g Ginger), Gp2 (0.5g Garlic), Gp3 (0.5g Black Pepper), Gp4 (0.5g Ginger + 0.5g Garlic), Gp5 (0.5g Black Pepper + 0.5g Garlic), Gp6 (0.5g Black Pepper + 0.5g Ginger), Gp7 (0.5g Black Pepper + 0.5g Ginger + 0.5g Garlic), Gp8 (synthetic antibiotic) as positive control, while Gp9 (only 400g feed) as negative control. Average weekly body weights (g) of each group were recorded on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 35 and 42 when their feacal samples were collected for microbial characterization. The three extracts contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids. Mean body-weight of broilers in Gp2 was highest (1050.4g), followed closely by the negative control Gp9 with 1012.28g (P>0.05). Excepting Gp3 (758.45g), there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the body-weights of positive control Group 8 (965.66g) and the remaining 5 groups (range = 826.56g-969.44g). Garlic, and ginger additives compared favourably with synthetic antibiotic on gut-associated microbial load (cfu) which were less than those of negative control Gp9. Bacteria (Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Serratia odorifera, Serratia liquefaciens, and Enterobacter cloacae) and fungi (Rhodotorula rubra, Torulopsis glabrate, Microsporum gypsewm, Wangiella, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Penicillium species, Mucor spp., and Trichophyton simii) were the identified gut microbiota. The result from this study has added to the existing body of knowledge in poultry feed additives of plant origin which may improve health and bodyweights of broiler chickens. However, good hygiene and management practices reduce microbial load in the poultry environment as well as infections in chickens.