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A 49 day feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of lemon grass - garlic extracts (CLGE) on the performance and hematological parameters of broiler chickens. Two hundred and fifty (250), day old 308 broiler chicks of mixed sex was purchased and were randomly assigned to five treatment, each treatment was replicated 5 times consisting of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. Birds in treatment 1 was given 0.025 g/L of Neomycin, Treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5 were given aqueous lemon grass-garlic extracts at 3.0 ml, 6.0 ml, 9.0 ml and 12.0 ml/L, respectively. Clean feed and water offered ad libitum. Results showed that CLGE had significant (p<0.05) effect on final body weight, body weight gain, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the birds. Birds in T5 recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight gain and superior feed conversion ratio than the control given 0.025 g/L Neomycin. There was also a significant (p<0.05) difference in the mortality recorded, T1 had the highest mortality of 12%, none was recorded in T2, T3, T4 and T5. Data on hematological indices (PCV, Hb, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC and WBC) revealed that CLGE significantly (p<0.05) influenced all the parameters assessed. It was concluded that CLGE can be included up to 12 mL/L in broiler chicken since it resulted in improved weight, feed conversion ratio without any deleterious effect on the health and performance of the animal.
Keywords: Performance, Hematological parameters, Lemon grass, Garlic extract, Broiler chicken
INTRODUCTION
The side effects of synthetic drugs such as presence of antibiotic residues leads to antibiotic resistance in humans; residues in animal tissues and the byproducts of synthetic drug became a matter of concern in the long term usage of such drugs. This issues have prompted the search for herbal preparations (medicinal plants) which are safe, cheap, reduce mortality and are able to maintain the optimum growth of animals [1]; herbal medicines are being practiced in the form of therapy for livestock farmers because they contains phytochemicals or bioactive chemicals which have been reported to perform multiple biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, anti-stress and anticancer [2].
The use of plant extract or phyobiotics has also increased because of the global awareness on the dangers of antibiotics and have been extensively used in feed as natural growth promoters, health protectants, reduced microbial load and feed palatability [3] Some of these plants of high therapeutic value includes: Azadirachta indica, Allium sativum, Thymus vulgaris, Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, Cymbopogon citratus and Allium sativum.
Cymbopogon citratus (Lemon grass) belongs to the family Poaceae, is a tall aromatic coarse grass. It is found in most countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. The plants contain steroids, alkaloids, phenols, saponin, tannins, anthraquinines and flavonoids as phytochemical components which allows it to functions as antibacterial, antioxidants, antifungal and antidiarrheal. According to Thorat [4], Lemon grass leaves contains 71.03% moisture, 3.83% crude protein, 2.94% ash, 4.76% crude fat, 9.30% crude fibre and 20.73% carbohydrate. The leaves of the plant produces yellow or amber color and aromatic essential oil (such as citral α, citral β, nerol geraniol, citronellal, terpinolene, geranyl acetate, myrecene and terpinol) when squeezed.
Garlic (Allium sativum) belongs to the family lily, has been used as a spice and a native medicine for many years. It has possessed excellent antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-cholesteremic, anti-cancerous and vasodilator characteristics [5]. The aqueous extract of Allium sativum has been shown to inhibit E. coli and Salmonella [6]. The results attributed the efficacy of garlic due to the presence alliin, diallyl sulphide and allicin [7], which possess antimicrobial activity [8].
Previous studies have shown that lemon grass positively influenced the performance and could be used as a botanical alternative in the diet of broilers. Thayalini et al. [9] and Ozougwu [10] reported a significant difference (p<0.05) in blood parameters white albino rats orally fed 300 mg/kg garlic extract. These plant extracts have been found to be loaded with several bioactive chemicals; therefore a synergistic combination of these plants will give a positive result on the performance of animals, save cost and ensure total safety in the final products obtained.
Therefore, this experiment was designed to evaluate the performance and hematological parameters of broiler chicks fed different levels of dried lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and garlic (Allium sativum) extract mixture.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Site of the experiment
The experiment was carried out at Division of Animal Nutrition, Sumitra Research Farm, Gujarat, India during the month of May to July, 2018.
Collection and sample preparation
Fresh, mature and healthy leaves of Cymbopogon citratus were obtained within the farm premises, the leaves were thoroughly washed with running tap water to remove the debris and allowed to dry under shade for 11 days until a constant weight was obtained, The dried samples was blended into fine powder using an electric blender and stored in air tight container. 20.00 g of Cymbopogon citratus powder was mixed with 100 ml distilled water for 48 h after which it was filtered using Whatmann filter paper to obtain Cymbopogon citratus extract (CCL).
Garlic cloves were purchased from a local market in Gutpa, the cloves were carefully peeled, cut into pieces and dried for 7 days. The dried garlic was blended into powder with an electric powder; extracts were prepared by soaking 100 g dried garlic powder in one liter of water for 24 h. The next morning, the extract (GLE) was obtained by filtering the infusion using a filter paper.
CCL and GLE were mixed in another clean bowl in the ratio of 1:1 to obtain lemon grass/garlic extract mixture (CLGE). The powdered samples and experimental diet were also subjected to proximate analysis to determine the crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and ash according to AOAC.
Phytochemical components of the extracts were determined according to methods described by NRC [11] and Odebiyi and Sofowora [12].
Pre-experimental activities
The house was cleaned and well disinfected before the commencement of the experiment; wood shaves were also spread on the floor of the pen.
Animal management and experimental diets
A total number of two hundred and fifty (250) one day commercial unsexed broilers of Ross-308 strain were obtained from a commercial hatchery in India and transported to the farm. The chicks were weighed individually at the beginning of the experiment. They were wing – banded and distributed randomly into 5 treatments of 250 chicks. The birds were kept under similar conditions of management throughout the experimental period. Chicks were bought vaccinated according to the prevailing disease condition in the environment. Water soluble multi-vitamin (Miavit Super) was given to the chicks before 3 days of vaccination and 3 days after vaccinations in order to guard stress. Each pen was equipped with feeders and drinkers to allow ad libitum consumption of feed and water. Light was provided approximately 24 h in a form of natural light during the day and artificial light during the night.
The chicks were fed on 5 dietary treatments. The first group A was given 0.025 g/L Neomycin in water. The other groups B, C, D and E were given CLGE at levels 3.0 mL/L, 6.0 mL/L, 9.0 mL/L and 12.0 mL/L of water respectively. The basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrients requirements of broiler chicks according to the NRC [11].
Experimental design and parameters measured
Experimental design used was a completely randomized design. Daily feed intake (g) was calculated by difference between feed offered and the left over, feed conversion ratio was determined as feed intake divided by body weight gain, water consumption and mortality were recorded daily throughout the experimental period. Mortality was recorded daily and all management practices were strictly observed throughout the experimental period.
Blood sample analysis
At the 7th week of the experiment, blood samples were collected from three randomly selected birds per replicate, the samples were collected via the branchial vein to aspire 5mls of blood from each bird into bottles containing Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA) for haematological analysis. Some of the haematological parameters measured are Pack cell volume (PCV), Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and absolute counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils which were all computed according to standard techniques.
MCV, MCH and MCHC were calculated according to Jain (1986) method as shown below:
MCV (fl) = PCV (%) × 10/RBC (106/µL)
MCH (pg) = Hb (g/dl) × 10/RBC (106/µL)
MCHC (%) = Hb (g/dl) × 100/PCV (%)
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
All data generated were subjected to a one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and treatment means were compared using Steel and Torrie. Differences among treatment means were separated by least significance difference test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the chemical composition of the experimental diets. The starter diet contained 23.23% crude protein, 3.67% ether extract, 3.79% crude fibre, 0.87% phosphorus, 1.11% calcium and 3000.9 ME kcal/kg energy while the finisher diet contained 20.51% crude protein, 3.01% ether extract, 4.08% crude fibre, 1.08% calcium, 0.95% phosphorus and 3110.4 ME kcal/kg energy. The basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrients requirements of broiler chicks. The proximate components of lemon grass leaf meal and garlic powder is revealed in Table 2. The proximate components of lemon grass leaf meal are 90.45%, 13.71%, 9.76%, 2.51%, 8.77% and 65.25% for dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract. Garlic powder contained dry matter (93.11%), crude protein (4.60%), crude fibre (6.11%), ether extract (0.66%), ash (5.11%) and nitrogen free extract (83.52%).
Results on the phytochemical analysis of Lemon grass leaf extract and garlic extract revealed the presence of tannin (0.650 mg/100 g), alkaloids (0.520 mg/100 g), saponins (0.700 mg/100 g), phytate (0.001 mg/100 g), flavonoids (0.532 mg/100 g) and phenol (0.400 mg/100 g) while those of garlic powder are tannin (7.00 mg), alkaloid (4.59 mg), phytate (27.80 mg), flavonoids (30.03 mg), phenol (0.041 mg) and oxalate (1.02 mg), respectively. Lemon grass leaf extract had a higher level of saponin followed by tannin, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenol and phytate respectively as presented in Table 3. This is consistent with the finding of Asaolu though a slightly lower value was recorded for tannin (0.600 mg), this may be attributed to differences in the variety, environmental condition and stage of growth of the plant. However, all values are below the lethal dose reported by European Food Safety Authority on scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of tannic acid when used in feed for all animal species. According to EFSA, the use of tannic acid as feed additive up to 15 mg/kg is safe for all animal species. Garlic extract had a higher level of flavonoid (30.03 mg) when compared with the other parameters. Similar observation was made which report that Aristolochia bracteolate contained a higher percentage of flavonoid during the phytochemical analysis of some medicinal plants from Western region of India.
Saponins are playing an active role as anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating remedies. Tannins are been reported to perform antibacterial and antiviral activity. Phenols are antioxidants which prevents the oxidative damage of molecules such as DNA and protein [13].
The performance of broiler fed different levels of CLGE is presented in Table 4. The average initial body weight was similar along treatments. However, the final average weight was higher (P<0.05) for birds in T5 (2190.6 g), T4 (2113.0 g) and T3 (2088.2 g) than those in T2 (2001.7 g) and T1 (1775.0 g). According to some researchers, the growth rate of an animal is determined by the feed intake and digestibility with feed intake being determined by nutrients. The result of the current study was also consistent with those reported for broilers, when supplemented with 1250 ppm Citrus sinensis peel extract [6] Similarly, Alabi reported that broilers fed 90 ml/L aqueous Moringa leaf extract had the highest body weight and growth rate (2392.00 g and 53.61 g, respectively). Conversely, it was ported a higher feed intake and lower body weight gain in broiler chicken fed diets without microbials.
Feed conversion ratio was significantly different (P<0.05) among the treatments. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in birds fed 40 ml/L of CLGE. This was similar with the finding of Nurani [14] who noted that addition of 15 ppm marigold leaf extract in the diet of quails increased their feed conversion ratio. Mortality rate was also affected by the inclusion of CLGE at 40 ml/L in T5. 12% mortality was recorded in birds given 10 ml/L (T1); none was recorded in T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively.
Table 5 shows the effect of feeding different levels CLGE on the haematological traits of broiler chicken. The PCV, Hb, RBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC values ranged 31.10-39.96%, 9.88-13.80 g/dl, 2.01-3.95 106/µL, 101.2-149.8 fl, 34.94-49.15 pg, 29.41-34.53%, respectively, while the WBC values ranged 19.89-31.22 106/µL. There was a significant (P<0.05) among the treatments. This was similar with the finding of Ozougwu [10] who noted that administration of garlic extract at 300 mg/kg showed positive haematological activities in rats but contrary to the reports of Vivian [15] when banana leaf was used as a phytoadditive in the diets of broiler chicks. Similarly, Alagbe, [16] also reported that dried Centella asiatica leaf meal did not (P>0.05) significantly affect the hematological parameters of broilers when fed at 6%. However, all the values of the hematological parameters fall within the ranges for broilers as reported by Talebi [17], Albokhadaim [18], Al-Nedawi [19]. Hematological studies have been found useful for disease prognosis and for therapeutic and stress monitoring [20] but can vary due to age, gender, environment, infection and poisoning. Red blood cell is involved in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body [21]. This is a clear indication that birds in T5 will have a have enough oxygen especially in situation of oxygen starvation. Onu and Aniebo [24] reported that hematocrit or PCV is an index of toxicity; lower value could be a sign of anemia. WBC helps to fight against infections and provide resistance against diseases [23].
CONCLUSION
The growth and hematological parameters measured showed significant differences. It could therefore be concluded that CLGE could be efficiently utilized and tolerated by broiler chickens up to 40 ml/L inclusion level without any negative effect on the performance and health status of broiler chickens. CLGE it is safe, efficient and should be encouraged among small and medium scale farmers.
RECOMMENDATION
Further research needs to be carried to determine the effect of CLGE on bacteria load count, to ascertain whether it can reduce the load of pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria in the gut of birds.
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