Effect of dietary supplementation with Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), and their composite on growth performance, serum parameters, and haematological indices of broiler chickens

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of dietary Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) supplementation on growth performance, serum parameters and haematological indices of broiler chickens. Three hundred and sixty unsexed Ross broilers were used for the study. Four experimental diets were formulated for starter (0-28days) and finisher phases (29-56days); Diet 1 was the control without Phytogenic supplementation, Diet 2 (supplemented with 1% Ethiopian pepper (EP)), Diet 3 (supplemented with 1% Clove (CL)) and Diet 4 (supplemented with 1% mix of equal quantity (0.5 % each) of Ethiopian pepper and clove (EPCL)). Each treatment was replicated 6 times with 15 birds per replicate. Growth response was measured weekly for starter and finisher phase, blood was collected for serum and haematological parameters at the end of 4th and 8th week. Data obtained were subjected to one analysis of variance using SAS 2000 and significant means were separated using Tukeys test in same software. At day 28, dietary supplementation of EPCL increased (P<0.05) live weight (LW) (660.34 g), weight gain (WG) (599.66 g) with improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0.98). Total protein (TP) (48.00 g/L) and albumin (28.30 g/L) was higher (P<0.05) for broilers fed diet supplemented EPCL compared to other treatments. Packed cell volume (PCV) (30.00 %) was higher (P<0.05) in broilers fed diet with EPCL. Supplementation of CL and EPCL in the diet of broilers increased (P<0.05) red blood cell (RBC) count of broilers. At day 56, LW and WG was also increased (P<0.05) with EPCL supplementation. Reduced (P<0.05) cholesterol was observed for broilers fed diet supplemented EPCL. Haemoglobin (Hb) and RBC was higher (P<0.05) for broilers fed diet supplemented EPCL. It was concluded that EPCL can be supplemented in the diet of broilers for increased performance and improved blood parameters