Effect of sprouted whole pearl millet on growth performance, intestinal development, bacterial count, and blood indices of broiler chickens

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of varying levels of sprouted whole grain pearl millet (SPM) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, microbial count, and blood indices of broiler chickens. A maize-soybean meal basal diet was formulated and fed to broiler chickens as starter (0 to 21 d) and finisher (22 to 42 d) diets. The diets comprised of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % of SPM incorporated as whole grain. On 0 d, 180 unsexed broiler chickens were allocated to experimental diets in a completely randomized design. Each treatment was replicated 3 times; each replicate had 12 chicks. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric to meet the nutrient requirement of broiler chickens. Diets and water were provided ad libitum for 42 d. Results showed that body weight gain of broiler chickens on sprouted whole pearl millet (SPM) compared favourably with those on the control diet. Body weight gain showed trends in increment (P < 0.10) while FCR showed decreased trends (P < 0.10) with partial inclusion of SPM at 42 d and 0 - 42 d. The drumstick weight showed quadratic effect (P=0.044) while wing weight showed linear effect (P=0.047) to treatment diets at 21 d. The liver weights of broiler chickens showed linear response (P=0.018) at 21 d and (P=0.004) at 42 d to SPM inclusion in diets. Sprouted whole PM consistently increased LDL concentration and MCHC (P<0.05). Length and weight of small intestine and ceca showed decreasing trends on SPM levels in the treatment diets. Digesta pH assessment revealed that pH in the crop were lower (P<0.05) on partial SPM while pH in proventriculus were reduced (P<0.05) with inclusion of SPM in treatment diets. Lactobacilli count decreased linearly (P=0.010) with SPM inclusion. This study suggests that SPM could be used as alternative source of energy in production of broiler chickens. Therefore, partial replacement of maize with SPM in broiler diet had no negative effect on performance, physiological status, and overall health of broiler chickens.

The economic effect of sex and germinated sprout feed onthe growth performance of new hybrid broiler chickens for environmental adaptation in Egypt

“…Carcass traits and several internal organ parameters, as well as some blood parameters, improved in groups treated with additional germinated sprout feed (Fig. 2 and Tables 5, 6), which agrees with the ndings of Hassan (2020) and Olasehinde and Aderemi (2023), who demonstrated that the largest improvements in live body weight and body gain parameters were achieved with the barley grain or Pearl millet sprouting approach. Hassan (2020) demonstrated that the sprouting of barley grains increases the percentage of carcass at the same time for all barley levels while signi cantly slowing the accumulation of abdominal fat.…”

Dietary Replacement of Soybean Meal with Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Meal on Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, and Nutrient Utilization in Broiler Chickens

“…The production performance of broilers was significantly improved when perilla seed meal replaces 1-2% soybean meal in the diet [22]. In addition, substituting soybean meal in the diet with plant protein raw materials like fermented rapeseed meal, raw chickpea, sweet almond meal, raw and fermented rapeseed cake, and sprouted whole pearl millet can also contribute to maintaining or even enhancing the growth and development of broilers [23][24][25][26][27]. In the experiment, the substitution of 5-10% soybean meal with ZBM significantly improved the ADG and ADFI of broilers, which supports the feasibility of using ZBM in broiler diets.…”

Effect of Puncture Vine on Growth Performance, Carcass and Meat Traits, Metabolic and Immunological Blood Indicators, and Selected Cecal Microbiota in Broiler Chickens

“…According to the manufacturer's instructions, these biochemical parameters were analyzed by spectrophotometric (RAN-DOX, UK) using reagent kits (Randox, London, UK). Serum globulin was determined by subtracting the albumin concentration from total protein, as previously described by Olasehinde and Aderemi et al [35].…”