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Due to issues concerning antimicrobial resistance, the use of antibiotics in poultry and pigs has been restricted in many countries. The research focus is now on suitable and readily available alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Alternatives such as probiotic, prebiotic, synbiotic, enzymes and acidifiers are being utilized while Phyto biotics (plant extracts) are also considered as viable alternatives. In this study, leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem) and Vernonia amygdylina (bitter leaf) were administered through drinking water, while enzyme (Roxazyme G2 G ®) was  supplemented in the feed of different groups of broiler birds which were randomly allocated to three treatments and a control in triplicates of ten birds per replicate. The control group did not receive either plant extract in water or enzyme in their diet. On day 42, the chickens were slaughtered; the digesta was gently collected from the ileum and caecum for microbial analysis, while histological analysis was carried on the empty ileum for the determination of villus height. Data collected for microbial analysis was log transformed before statistical analysis and was stated as Log colony forming unit/g of digesta sample (Log cfu/g). The highest villus height was recorded for enzyme treatment (0.955mm) followed by bitter leaf (0.717mm), and least for neem leaf (0.592 mm) with 0.656 mm for the control. Enzyme supplementation, bitter leaf and neem leaf extract administration had no significant effect (p>0.05) on villus height. However,villus height recorded for enzyme supplementation and administration of bitter leaf extract was numerically higher than the control group. The population of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) in the ileum was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the control group (9.28 Log cfu/g) than enzyme supplementation (8.52 Log cfu/g) and administration of leaf extract. The least value was recorded was recorded with bitter leaf (7.94 Log cfu/g). A value of 8.14 Log cfu/g was recorded with neem extract in drinking water. Total coliform was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the control (7.33 Log cfu/g) than in enzyme (6.00 Log cfu/g), neem leaf (4.74 Log cfu/g) and bitter leaf (4.84 Log cfu/g) treatments. The population of enteropathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella) was also significantly reduced (p< 0.05) by enzyme supplementation and administration of neem leaf and bitter leaf extracts in the ileum. The THB and total coliform counts (Log cfu/g) was significantly (p<0.05) reduced by enzyme supplementation, neem leaf and bitter leaf extract in the caecum also. In conclusion, the results of the current study showed that the leaf extracts and enzyme supplementation significantly decreased the number of enteropathogenic bacteria in the ileum and caecum. Although there was no significant impact on villi height, but numerical difference in villi height were recorded.

Gastrointestinal health challenges without in-feed antibiotics are a crucial concern to poultry farmers. Although, quite a few substitutes for antibiotics have emerged, phytogenics and antibiotic properties of medicinal plants cannot be overlooked with regard to control, good health and minimizing sub – clinical bacteria-induced infections by zoonotic enteropathogenic bacteria in poultry birds. Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaves were collected early in the morning and oven dried to 15% moisture content. The non-essential oil was obtained by cold maceration method using methanol. Appropriate methods were used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals in the respective oils. Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals showed that, saponins and terpenoids were highly detected (+++) in V. amygdalina. Saponins and terpenoids were slightly detected (+) in A. indica. Phenolic compounds were highly detected (+++) in both plants. Flavonoids were also identified (++) in both plants, but tannins were highly detected (+++) in A. indica. Quantitative analysis revealed a rather high concentration of complete phenolic content and overall flavonoid content in V. amygdalina. Total phenolic content of 44.76 mg Gallic acid equivalent / g of extract and 57.21 mg Rutin equivalent / g of extract (total flavonoid content) was recorded in V. amygdalina and 25.77 mg Gallic acid equivalent / g of extract (total phenolic content) and 24.45 mg Rutin equivalent /g of extract (total flavonoid content) in A. indica. In conclusion, both plant extracts exhibited possibility as suitable substitutes to proprietary antibiotics that can be beneficial to gastrointestinal health and overall performance in animal nutrition.

Several agro-industrial by products are utilized in the synthesis of enzymes and production of other value-added products. This experiment was designed to access the cellulase and hemicellulase enzyme activity of three fungi (Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride and Rhizopus oryzae) in mono and mixed culture submerged fermentation using rice mill feed as substrate. The cellulase enzyme complex (cellulase (carboxy methyl cellulase, filter paper activity, β-glucosidase activity) and hemicellulase (β-xylanase and β-xylosidase) were determined respectively. Carboxy methyl cellulase activity was significantly improved by a mixed culture of all three fungi (4.90U/ml) and a mixed culture of Trichoderma viride and Rhizopus oryzae (4.83U/ml). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in concentration of carboxy methyl cellulase synthesized in mono culture submerged fermentation of rice mill feed but numerically high values were recorded with Trichoderma viride and Rhizopus oryzae. The activity of β-glucosidase was significantly (p<0.05) high (4.79U/ml) in mixed culture of the three fungi. Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae also yielded significantly (p<0.05) high β-glucosidase activity of 3.00U/ml and 2.13U/ml respectively. The activity of β-xylanase was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced (3.77U/ml) with a mixed culture of all three fungi. Mono culture submerged fermentation resulted in significant (p<0.05) β-xylanase activity with Aspergillus niger (1.83U/ml) and Rhizopus oryzae (1.75U/ml) over Trichoderma viride (1.26U/ml). The fungi utilized in this study were able to produce cellulase and hemicellulase enzyme from rice mill feed in mono and mixed fungi fermentation. The enzyme activity of carboxy methyl cellulase, β-glucosidase and βxylanase was noticeable.

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