Performance of broiler chickens fed whole pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) based diets, supplemented with Detoxizyme® and phytogenics

A A Mohammed, M Habiba and I Mukhtar¹

Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
aliyuabdullahimohammed@yahoo.com
¹ Department of Agriculture, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the growth performance of Hubbard strain broiler birds fed whole pearl millet based diets supplemented with Detoxizyme® and phytogenics. Two hundred birds were used in the starter phase while One hundred and eighty birds were used in the finisher phase. There were five dietary treatments in each of the phases and each of the treatments had four replicates. Treatment 1 served as the control diet without any additive; Detoxizyme® 50g/100Kg diet (DT50), 500g garlic/100Kg diet (GR500), 500g/100Kg diet ginger (GG500) and mixture of 250g garlic and 250g ginger (GR250+GG250) where added as additives in treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

Birds on the control diet had higher final weight than birds fed GR500 and GG500. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio and cost of feed per kg gain were not different among diets. No mortality was observed. The finisher experiment showed that the growth performance of the chickens was not different across the treatment means except for the feed intake. Feed intake was higher in broiler finisher chickens on the control diet.

Keywords: garlic, ginger, broiler chickens, Pennisetum glaucum

Introduction

To ensure more net return and to minimize expenditure on feed are the main challenges, for which many research strategies have been practiced such as introducing feed additives (Pervez 1992). Phytogenics are a group of natural growth promoters or non-antibiotic growth promoters used as feed additives, derived from herbs, spices or other plants. Phytogenic feed additives have been reported to improve gut microflora (Helander et al 1998; Mitsch et al 2004; Kroismayr et al 2008; Peric et al 2008), increase digestibility (Mitsch et al 2004; Kroismayr et al 2008), modify digestive secretion morphology (Williams and Losa 2001; Kreydiyyeh et al 2003; Jamroz et al 2003). Improvement in gut microflora, increase in digestibility and modification of digestive secretion have been reported to result to higher nutrient digestibility, less competition for nutrients, reduce microbial toxins and less immune demands (Windisch et al 2008; Peric et al 2008). These will then lead to increased performance of the farm animals concerned (Kroismayr et al 2008).

Garlic is widely used and distributed in most parts of the world, because of its many beneficial properties. Garlic is rich in organo-sulfur substances, such as allicin, diallyl sulfide, and diallyl trisulphide. The allicin gives garlic its characteristic odour and flavour as well as most of its biological properties (Chowdury et al 2002). Phytochemicals of importance in ginger include: gingerol, gingerdiol, gingerdione, 6-dehydroshogoal, curcumene, zingiberence, β-phellandrene, β-sesquiphellandrene, camphene in various amounts according to the preparation process (Nanung 2012). Garlic and Ginger had also been mentioned to have antimycotic effects (Kumar and Berwal 1998).

Researches have been done using Garlic (Allium sativum), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and lots of other phytogenics as feed additives in poultry diets. Most of these researches were using maize based diets. Pearl millet grains have in recent years been successfully used to wholly or partly replace maize as a major source of energy in poultry diets (Hidalgo et al 2004). One of the major problems that could be encountered in using millet is that, it is prone or more susceptible to fungal attack right from the field, during storage, and even when used to formulate diets than other cereals (Davis et al 2003). There is dearth of information on using feed additives especially Detoxizyme^® and other Phytogenics on millet-based diets used to feed poultry.

Detoxizyme®, a blend of specific natural toxin degrading enzymes on a toxin binding carrier has been used for eradication and prevention of mycotoxins. It has been mentioned to have a double action effect of binding mycotoxins through its carrier Hydrated Sodium Calcium Alumino Silicate HSCAS and detoxifies and degrades mycotoxins through the specific action of its constituents enzymes when used at the preventative level (500g/tonne of feed). Other claimed benefits of Detoxizyme® are: all the detoxifying enzymes present in Detoxizyme® are heat stable, improves livability, feed conversion ratio and weight gain in broiler chickens. As such the study was aimed to determine the growth performance of broiler birds fed whole pearl millet based diets supplemented with Detoxizyme® and phytogenics.

Materials and methods

Experimental location

The experiment was carried out at the poultry production section of Sokoto State Veterinary Centre located at Aliyu Jedo road in Sokoto metropolis between May and June, 2013. Sokoto State lies between latitude 12ºN and 13.55ºN and longitude 48ºE and 60ºE. Mean annual temperature is 34.9ºC with highest in April reaching 38ºC to 41ºC and the lowest in January with a range of 13º-16ºC. Total annual rainfall is about 700mm (Mamman et al 2000).

Sources, processing methods and costs of test ingredients

Fresh garlic cloves and ginger rhizomes were purchased from Sokoto central market. Both were sliced, sundried and ground separately in to powder. Detoxizyme ® was purchased from Animal care company Nigeria Limited. The costsof 1kg ground garlic and ginger, and Detoxizyme ® powder were N 1333 and N 1304, and N 1400, respectively.

Experimental diets

Five (5) diets were formulated for each of the experiments. Diet one served as Control (without additives). Diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 50g Detoxizyme ® (DT50) , 500g garlic (GR500) and 500g ginger (GG500) per 100kg diet as additives respectively. Diet five contained 250g garlic and 250g ginger (250GR +250GG) mixture per 100kg diet. The composition of the starter and finisher diets is shown in Table 1.

Experimental birds and general flock management

Two hundred (200) day old broiler chicks of mixed sexes Hubbard strain were used for the starter phase in a completely randomized design. The birds were divided in to five (5) treatments with forty (40) birds each. Four (4) replicates formed each treatment with ten (10) birds per replicate. The chicks were brooded on deep litter using 100 watt bulbs, flat plastic feeders and shallow drinkers for the first two (2) weeks of the experiment. The birds were fed starter mash experimental diets for four (4) weeks. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. The birds were vaccinated against gumboro disease at the second and fourth weeks of age as first and second doses respectively. In the finisher phase a total of 180 Hubbard strain of broiler birds were used in a completely randomized design. The birds used were obtained at the end of a starter phase experiment using the same test ingredient levels. After the starter phase experiment, the birds were re-randomized and fed on common ration for one week to serve as the adjustment period. The birds were divided into 5 treatments which consist of 4 replicates per treatment with 9 birds per replicate. The birds were reared in deep litter system; wood shavings were used as the litter material. Lasota vaccine was administered as second dose on the 6^th week.

Data collection

Data on feed left over and body weights were recorded weekly. Observation on mortality was done daily. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were calculated at the end of each of the phases.

Statistical analyses

Data collected were subjected to analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Duncans Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to separate means that were significant (SAS 2005).

Results and discussion

Results of the performance of broiler starter and finisher birds fed whole pearl millet based diets supplemented with Detoxizyme® and phytogenics are as shown in table 3 and 4 respectively. In the starter phase there were differences (P≤0.05) across the treatment means in terms of final weight and weight gain. Chicks fed diets supplemented with garlic and ginger as sole agents were lower (P≤0.05) in their final weight and weight gain relative to chicks on the control diet. For the finisher phase there were no differences (P≥0.05) across all the treatment means for all the parameters analyzed except for feed intake which was higher in the control group birds.

Ademola et al (2009) showed significant decrease in final live weight of chickens relative to control when ginger at 2%/100Kg diet was fed to broiler chickens. Al Homidan (2005) reported reduced growth rate of broiler starter chickens fed ginger at the rate of 20g and 60g/kg diet. However, Herawati (2010) reported higher (P≤0.05) body weight with the use of 2% red ginger/100kg diet of broiler chickens’ diets. Ademola et al (2012) also reported that the mixture of two phytogenics (garlic and ginger) were found beneficial by promoting final live weight and weight gain of pullet growers and laying hens. Trials conducted with broiler chickens fed non antibiotic feed additives with medicinal properties revealed several results. According to El-Deek et al (2002), inclusion of 1g/kg diet of ginger did not affect growth performance. Farinu et al (2004), however reported slight improvement in the growth performance of broiler chickens fed ginger supplements at the levels of 5, 10, 15g/Kg diet. Tekeli et al (2011) stated that Z. officinale improved body weight gain in chickens. Ari et al (2012) reported significant (P≤0.05) differences in average body weight gain and feed conversion ratio on broiler chicken starter phase when garlic was supplemented at 0, 10, 15 and 20g per Kg feed on daily basis. Garlic at 1.5% decreased final live weight of chickens at starter phase relative to control (Ademola et al 2009). Ademola et al (2009), reported increase in body weight gain of broiler chickens fed a mixture of garlic and ginger. In another study by Ademola et al (2012), the mixtures of these two phytogenics (ginger and garlic) were found beneficial for promoting final live weight and weight gain of pullet growers and laying hens and also improved feed conversion. Onu (2010) showed that ginger and garlic supplementation at 0.25% level in broiler finisher diets enhanced the growth rate and feed conversion ratio of the birds. The differences encountered in the results of this research as compared to most of the reported findings could be as a result of the species of the phytogenics used in this experiment, the method of processing or the environmental condition of the research area. Yang et al (2009) reported that factors that may affect the effectiveness of phytobiotic additives include: plant parts and their physical properties, the genetic variation of plant, age of the plant, different dosage used, extraction method, harvest time and compatability with the other ingredients in the feed.

Conclusion

• The addition of Detoxizyme® and phytogenics to the diet of broiler chickens had no effect on their growth performance.

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Received 25 September 2014; Accepted 21 November 2014; Published 1 December 2014

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