Neem, pawpaw and bamboo leaf meal dietary supplementation in broiler chickens: Effect on performance and health status

Abstract

The effect of the diet supplemented with leaf meals (LM) of neem (NLM), pawpaw (PLM), bamboo (BLM) and their composite leaf mix (CLM) on broiler chickens was assessed. Three hundred 1‐day old broiler chickens were distributed to five diets: (control/no LM), (5 g/kg NLM), (5 g/kg PLM), (5 g/kg BLM) and (5 g/kg NLM+PLM+BLM 1:1:1). Body weight gain of birds fed BLM and CLM supplemented diets were similar but higher (p < 0.05) than those fed the control, NLM and PLM supplemented diets at day 42. The glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase and creatinine levels in LM supplemented diets were (p < 0.05) lower compared to the control. The superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were (p < 0.05) higher in LM supplemented diets compared to the control. The growth promoting potentials of bamboo leaf meal and the composite leaf mix can be harnessed for broiler chicken production. Practical applications The use of herbs as the growth promoter is currently gaining research attention in most countries. In particular, herbal supplementation in poultry diets had been proposed as a means of enhancing the performance, stabilizing the physiological state, boosting immunity and antioxidative status in the birds. This study showed that improved body weight gain of broiler chickens at 42 days of age with attendant low serum glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol can be achieved when leaf meals from neem, pawpaw, bamboo and their composite mix were used as phyto‐additives. The bamboo leaf meal and the composite leaf meal can be used to reduce the occurrence of arteriosclerosis which predisposes sudden death syndrome in well‐grown and healthy broiler chickens. The procedures of raising broiler chickens to reach about 3 kg in less than 2 months impose a heavy burden on the heart, particularly overloading on the ventricular arteries leading to arteriosclerosis with age.

A preliminary study of fonio–moringa seed meal‐based complementary food in Wistar rats

“…The Moringa seed offers concentrated nutrients including amino acids, proteins, and a wide range of vitamins and minerals, making it an outstanding supplement for stressed and hurried individuals and a solid source of nutrition for undernourished populations around the World (Peter & Philip, 2014). Furthermore, the fonio-moringa seed meal (FMSM) could be classified as phytogens (Abd El-Hack et al, 2018) and generally, phytogenic feed supplements or additives are reported to have influence on the heamatological and serum biochemical indices (Oloruntola, Agbede, Ayodele, & Oloruntola, 2018) and histology and morphology of internal organs of the animals (Adeyeye, Ayodele, Oloruntola, & Agbede, 2019;Oloruntola, 2018).…”

Processed cocoa pod husk dietary inclusion: effects on the performance, carcass, haematogram, biochemical indices, antioxidant enzyme and histology of the liver and kidney in broiler chicken

“…Erythrogram is one of the indicators for assessing the nutritional and health status of animals, and there exists a marked influence of nutrition on haematology traits (Oloruntola et al 2018d). The stability of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cells of the birds fed diets containing varying levels of PCHM also shows that the dietary treatment used in this study did not have negative effects on the normal blood-forming processes in the experimental birds.…”

“…For instance, caffeine intake was associated with a lower risk of elevated alanine aminotranaferase (Ruhl and Everhart 2005). The use of phytochemical in ameliorating the negative effects of heat-induced oxidative stress in birds has been reported (Oloruntola et al 2018d). These phytochemicals with antioxidant properties play roles in reducing the process of oxidation by reacting with free radicals during oxidative process (Goyal and Brahma, 2014).…”

“…These phytochemicals with antioxidant properties play roles in reducing the process of oxidation by reacting with free radicals during oxidative process (Goyal and Brahma, 2014). Serum GPx and CAT are among the antioxidant enzymes protecting cells from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (Oloruntola et al 2018d). The GPx protects the cells against the damaging effects of oxidation by catalyzing the degradation of various peroxidase and oxidizing glutathione (Vara et al 2009), while the CAT inhibits or prevents cell against hydrogen lipid peroxidation and peroxide toxicity (Oloruntola et al 2018d).…”

“…Serum GPx and CAT are among the antioxidant enzymes protecting cells from the harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (Oloruntola et al 2018d). The GPx protects the cells against the damaging effects of oxidation by catalyzing the degradation of various peroxidase and oxidizing glutathione (Vara et al 2009), while the CAT inhibits or prevents cell against hydrogen lipid peroxidation and peroxide toxicity (Oloruntola et al 2018d). The higher serum GPx and CAT concentration recorded in broiler chickens fed PCHM-inclusive diet compared to those fed the control diet suggests PCHM contain antioxidant properties.…”