Dietary addition of a standardized extract of turmeric (TurmaFEEDTM) improves growth performance and carcass quality of broilers

Abstract

BackgroundIndiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming has caused emergence of new pathogenic strains. The situation has warrented the development of safe and alternative growth promoters and immunity enhancers in livestock. Herbal additives in animal and bird feed is a centuries-old practice. Thus, the present study investigated the efficacy of a standardized formulation of lipophilic turmeric extract containing curcumin and turmerones, (TF-36), as a natural growth promoter poultry feed additive.MethodsThe study was designed on 180 one-day old chicks, assigned into three groups. Control group (T0) kept on basal diet and supplemented groups T0.5 and T1 fed with 0.5% and 1% TF-36 fortified basal diet for 42 days. Each dietary group consisted of six replicates of ten birds. Body weight, food intake, food conversion ratio, skin colour, blood biochemical analysis and antioxidant status of serum were investigated.ResultsBody weight improved significantly in T1 with a 10% decrease in FCR as compared to the control. TF-36 supplementation in T1 enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.05) with a decrease (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation. It also caused a slight yellow skin pigmentation without any change in meat color, indicating the bioavailability of curcumin from TF-36. However, no significant change in the concentration of serum creatinine, total protein and liver enzyme activities were observed, indicating the safety.ConclusionIn summary, we concluded that TF-36 can be a natural feed additive to improve growth performance in poultry, probably due to the better antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects contributed by the better bioavailability of curcuminoids and turmerones. Besides, curcuminoids and turmerones were also known to be gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents.

Potential Application of Cornelian Cherry Extract on Broiler Chickens: Growth, Expression of Antioxidant Biomarker and Glucose Transport Genes, and Oxidative Stability of Frozen Meat

“…The present results are consistent with the results of other researchers [ 40 ], who reported that the dietary inclusion of different phenolic compounds for broilers had a positive impact on growth performance parameters. Plant-rich phenolics could promote the growth performance of broilers [ 40 , 41 ] through their potential to improve the antioxidant status of the gut [ 42 ]. Furthermore, the application of green tea extract, which is rich in catechins, at concentrations of 100 or 200 mg/kg, in feed has been found to boost the growth performance of broiler chickens [ 43 , 44 ].…”

“…Moreover, the upregulation of GLUT1 and GLUT2 can enhance their absorptive functions and increase the final body weight of broiler chickens via increasing nutrient transporter expression in the small intestine [ 74 , 75 ]. Additionally, plant-rich phenolics could promote the growth performance of broilers [ 41 ] through their potential to improve the antioxidant status of the gut [ 42 ]. Antioxidant capacity is a critical factor in poultry health that affects meat quality after slaughter.…”

Effect of adding turmeric powder to local buck rabbit’s rations on some production and blood traits

“…This difference may be due to an increase in the weight (0, 0.05) of hot and cold carcasses, which is based on the addition of 8 kg/kg of calmer powder, which is attributed to the final weight before slaughtering the rabbits fed on the mentioned breeds. This moral difference in the weight of the carcass reflects moral superiority (00.05) in the dressing percentage or enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity [34].…”

The role of polyphenols in poultry nutrition

“…Among natural products, polyphenols received growing interest due to their various functional properties. Mechanisms of polyphenols and their beneficial impacts in poultry nutrition (Table 2) have made them act as promoters of growth performance (Luo et al., 2018) and egg quality (Galli et al., 2018) through its capability to improve gut health and antioxidant status (Nm et al., 2018). For instance, the inclusion of curcumin and turmeric at 0.5% in the poultry diet enhances the overall performance of broiler chickens (Durrani et al., 2006) and laying local hens (Radwan Nadia et al., 2008).…”