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This study was carried out to investigate
the growth response and bacteria count of broiler starter given Delonix regia leaf extract (DRP) as a
natural alternative to antibiotics. Two hundred (200) one-day-old commercial unsexed broilers of
Ross-308 strain were randomly distributed into 4
dietary treatments of 5 replicates, each replicate had 10 birds. Treatment 1
(T1) was given Oxytertracycline at 0.30 g/l of water, T2, T3 and T4 were given
DRP at 5 ml, 10 ml and 15 ml/l of water. Feed was formulated to meet the
nutritional requirement of birds according to NRC and the experiment lasted for
4 weeks. Feed and water offered were offered ad libitum in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data on growth
performance revealed that DRP had significant (p<0.05) effect on final body
weight, body weight gain, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the
birds. Birds fed 15 ml/l DRP received significantly (p<0.05) higher body
weight gain and superior feed conversion ratio than the control. The data on bacteria
count indicated no significant difference (p>0.05) in the E. coli counts, a significant increase
was observed in the Lactobacillus count (p<0.05). No mortality was recorded
throughout the experimental period. Based on the results of this study, it can
be concluded that DRP is an organic and effective herbal alternative to
antibiotics because of its numerous bioactive chemicals and can be given to
broilers up to 15 ml/l of water without any deleterious effect on the health
and performance of the birds.
INTRODUCTION
The use of
plant parts such as leaves, roots, fruits, seeds and flowers have been used as
phytomedicines since the old civilization because plants are able to produce
several bioactive chemicals or secondary metabolites called phytochemicals
[1,2]. Phytochemicals or phytobiotics have been used for animal nutrition due
to their biological functions such as anti-bacterial, antiviral,
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal and antioxidant effects [3,4].
Plant extract
consists of various compounds characteristic to the plant (Lina Šernaite,
2017). Secondary metabolites secreted by plants depend on their age, soil type,
plants species and environmental condition. Bioactive chemicals synthesized by
plants are flavonoids, tannin, phenol, saponin, steroids, glycosides and
phytate. Plant extract are cheap, safe and effective against bacteria, thus
making them useful as growth promoters and health protectants [5]. For
instance, phenols are strong antioxidants and protect animals against stress
[6,7]. Flavonoids are known to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic,
antiviral and anti-proliferative activities [8,9].
Delonix regia is a
flowering plant in the pea family found in tropical areas such as Taiwan,
Malaysia, India, Vietnam and central region of South America. Its leaves are
used informally to treat diseases in folk medicine to treat many diseases
including constipation, arthritis, rheumatoid, diabetes, pneumonia, malaria and
so on [10]. Several bioactive chemicals such as saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids,
tannin, sterols, carotenoids and phenols have been reported to exist in leaves,
flowers, barks and seeds of Delonix regia
extracts [11,12].
Delonix regia extract
(DRP) possess significant biological and pharmacological activities such as
antioxidant [13], anti-inflammatory [14], anti-diabetic [15], hepatopretective
[16], anti-microbial [17] and anti-diarrheal [18]. According to Shewale et al. [14]; Lung-Shuo Wang
et al. [19], DRP was safe and non-toxic in the acute toxicity studies in vivo in mice at 400 mg/kg/d. The methanolic extract of leaf of Delonix regia have also been found to have beneficial effects in
reducing the elevated blood glucose level of hyper-
In view of the
abundant potential in DRP, this research work was carried out to determine the
growth response and bacteria count of broiler starter given Delonix regia leaf extract as a natural
alternative to antibiotics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental site
The experiment
was carried out at Division of Animal Nutrition, Sumitra Research Farm,
Gujarat, India during the month of January to March, 2018.
Collection and sample preparation
Fresh mature
and healthy leaves of Delonix regia
were harvested within the farm premises. The leaves were
thoroughly washed with running tap water to remove the debris and allowed to
dry under shade for 7 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. The extract (DRP) was prepared by soaking 100 g of Delonix regia powder in 2 L of water,
then boiled for 2 min, allowed to cool for 24 h sieved with a filter paper and
stored in a refrigerator at 4°C.
Phytochemical
components of the extracts were determined according to methods described by
Harbone (1973) and Odebiyi and Sofowora (1978).
Animals and their management
A total number of two hundred (200) one-day-old
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 4 dietary treatments of 5
replicates each. Each replicate had 10 birds. The chicks were kept under similar conditions
of management throughout the experimental period. Birds were also 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.
Experimental diets and
design
The basal diet was formulated to meet the
nutrients requirements of broiler chicks according to the NRC (1994).
Treatment 1 – Basal diet + 0.30 g/l of
Oxytetracycline in water
Treatment 2 – Basal diet + 5 ml/l DRP
Treatment 3 – Basal diet + 10 ml/l DRP
Treatment 4 – Basal diet + 15 ml/l DRP
The
experimental design was Completely Randomized design.
Data collected
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 which lasted for 4 weeks.
Bacteria count analysis
At the end of
the 4th week, five birds were randomly selected per treatment; they
were slaughtered. After evisceration, One gram of each sample of the jejunal
content was collected and transferred into the test tube and was then diluted
with 9 ml of 1% peptone broth and homogenized. Counts of bacteria and
lactobacillus were determined.
Chemical analysis
The proximate components of Delonix regia leaf meal and experimental
diet were determined by the method of AOAC (1990).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
All data
collected were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using the
General linear model of SAS (1999) and significant means were separated by
Duncan Multiple Range Test (Duncan 1955).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 reveals the
percentage composition of the experimental diet. The proximate components
contain crude protein (23.23%), crude fibre (3.14%), ether extract (5.01%), dry
matter (91.44%), calcium (1.13%), phosphorus (0.86%) and metabolizable energy
(2901.9 Kcal/kg). The diets were formulated to meet the nutritional requirement
of birds according to NRC (1994).
The
phytochemical analysis of Delonix regia
extract (DRP) is presented in Table 2.
The phytochemical components show that saponin (2.03%), flavonoids (3.10%),
alkaloids (1.81%), tannin (2.08%), steroids (1.01%), phenol (2.43%) and
glycosides (0.07%). Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites or bioactive
chemicals found in plants. Secondary metabolites of plants play a vital role as
defense mechanism against attack by microorganisms [20,21].
Phenols are
found in many plants and they function as antioxidants, free radicals
scavengers [22,23], anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and ant carcinogen. Saponin
performs antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory roles [24], there are 11 classes
of saponins: dammaranes, tirucallanes, lupanes, hopanes, olananes,
taraastrranes, ursanes, cycloartanes, lanostanes, cucurbitanes and steroids
[25,26].
Flavonoids have
protective effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral,
anti-diabetic and anti-carcinogenic properties [27-29]. Alkaloids are
heterogeneous group of naturally occurring compounds found in the leaves, roots
and barks of some plants, they are found to have antimicrobial properties due
to their ability to intercalate DNA of microorganisms [30]. However, all the
DRP values obtained were within the safe recommended range of phytochemical for
animals reported by Kumar and Amit [31] and Alagbe [32].
Performance traits of broiler chicks given DRP
as alternative to antibiotics is presented on Table 3. The final weight range 1001.7-1130.6 g while the final
weight gain is 959.0, 965.3, 1081.8 and 1088.5 g for treatment 1, 2, 3 and 4,
respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) among the
treatment in terms of the final weight gain. Birds in T5 had the highest weight
gain (1088.5 g) followed by T4 (1081.8 g), T3 (965.27 g) and T1 (959.0 g),
respectively. The result obtained in this experiment is in agreement with the
finding of Dalkiliĉ et al. [33] when clove extract was supplemented at 400 ppm
in the diet of broilers. Similarly, Hassan et al. [34] reported a significant
difference in weight gain of broiler given 2% Tulsi leaf extract when compared
with the control group but contrary with the reports of some researchers when lemon grass was supplemented in the diet of
quails at 3%. A significant difference was also recorded (P<0.05) in the
feed intake among the treatment, this is parallel with the finding of Karangiya
et al. [35] when garlic and ginger was supplemented at 1% in the diet of
broiler chicken which is inconsistent with the finding of Imasuen et al. [36].
Feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) influenced in all the
treatment groups and no mortality was recorded throughout the experimental
period. According to some researchers the growth rate of an animal provides
information that helps to ascertain the level of feeding and management for
economic advantage.
Bacteria and Lactobacillus count of broiler
given Oxytetracycline and DRP is presented in Table 4. E. coli count
values obtained are 18.92, 18.77, 18.72 and 18.70 (cfu/g) for T1, T2, T3 and
T4, respectively. The E. coli values
slightly reduced from T1 to T4 though not at a significant rate (P>0.05).
This is similar with the finding of Alagbe [32] who noted that there was no
significant difference (P>0.05) in the E.
coli count of broilers given 20 ml/l Luffa
aegyptiaca leaf extract (LUF) and 1.25 g/l of Neomycin. The lactobacillus
count values obtained are 9.44, 13.12, 17.02 and 20.44 (cfu/g) for T1, T2, T3
and T4, respectively. The values were significantly influenced (P<0.05) in
all the treatment groups. This result clearly shows that DRP functioned as a probiotics,
thus reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria making it possible for the
animals gut to utilize feed effectively. According to Parker [37] prebiotics
are microorganisms or substances that contribute to intestinal microbial
balance. Similarly, Jemigan et al. [38] defined probiotics as culture of
specific living microorganism, which implant in the animal to which it is given
and ensures effective establishment of intestinal microbial population. They
are capable of exerting a beneficial
effect on host animal (increased growth and production). Others reported that
probiotics supplementation in broilers increases intestinal length and weight.
Improved digestibility of nutrients and metabolizable energy of diets has been
reported with the administration of probiotics in diet [39,40] (Figure 1).
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
It can be concluded that DRP can be used as an
alternative herbal drug because it contains several bioactive constituents such
as saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannin, phenol and steroids which are
relatively safe, improves performance and efficient in controlling mortality
and therefore can be included at 15 ml/l in the water of birds without any
deleterious effect on the performance and health status of the animal.
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Table 1 -
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Table 3
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Table 4
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