ABSTRACT
Two hundred and forty 14-day old broiler birds were used in a study conducted to investigate the physiological response of boiler birds to oral supplementation with aloe vera gel and neem leaf extracts. In experiment one, one hundred and twenty 14- day old broilers were used to assess the physiological response of the broiler birds to oral supplementation with alovera gel extract, while in experiment two, one hundred and twenty 14- day old broilers were used to assess the physiological response of the broiler birds to oral supplementation with neem leaf extract. The birds of both sexes were randomly allotted into five treatment groups of 24 birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD) in both experiments. Treatments 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 received ordinary water, Vitaltye, 10, 20, and 30% of each of the two extracts, respectively. Results obtained in experiment one showed that there were significant (p<0 .05="" 20="" 3.15="" 3.21="" 3.29="" 3.48="" 3.70kg="" 30="" abdominal="" affected="" albumin="" aloe="" also="" among="" and="" apparent="" as="" at="" average="" basophil.="" between="" birds="" blood="" body="" broiler="" by="" calcium.="" cell="" cells="" cholesterol="" compared="" control="" conversion="" cost="" creatine.="" creatine="" crude="" daily="" differences="" dressed="" dry="" efficiency="" empty="" enhanced="" eosnoohil="" especially="" ether="" existed="" extract="" extracts="" fat="" feed="" final="" follows:t1="" font="" free="" gain="" gel="" gizzard="" globulin="" glucose="" growth="" had="" head="" heart="" hetrophil="" however="" in="" inclusions.="" increase="" intake="" intestine.="" intestine="" intestines.="" kg="" kidney="" large="" leaf="" levels="" live="" liver="" lower="" lowest="" lungs="" lymphocyte="" matter="" moncyte="" mortality="" nbsp="" neem="" nitrogen="" no="" of="" on="" others="" p="" packed="" per="" performance="" present="" progressive="" protein="" rate.="" ratio="" received="" red="" respectively.="" respectively="" results="" retained="" retentions="" serum="" shank="" showed="" significant="" significantly="" small="" study="" t1="" t2="" t4="" t5="" than="" that="" the="" there="" to="" total="" treatments.="" treatments="" used="" vera="" vitalyte="" volume="" water="" weight="" were="" which="" white="" with="">
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Poultry is on the fastest means to achieving appreciable improvement in the nutritional standard of the populace because of its short generation interval, quick turnover rate and relatively low capital investment (Smith, 2001; Ani and Okeke, 2011)
Nutrition is the most important consideration in any livestock enterprise. Its survival is dependent on the availability of feedstuffs, which are mainly components of human food. The unavailability of grains and the high cost of imported ingredients have made the price of commercial animal feed to increase over 300%. These problems remain the most important constraints to the expansion of commercial poultry production in Nigeria.
The high cost of conventional feedstuff has already sent a lot of livestock farmers out of business, thus leading to reduction in overall animal protein production and availability for humans dietary’s need. The provision of feed alone has been reported to account for 60-80% of total cost of livestock production in developing countries alone (Igboeli, 2000; Esonu, 2006). In view of this, there is increased interest by poultry farmers on the search for non conventional feed ingredients that could be cheaper such as leaf and seed meals of ethno medicinal plants (Okoli et al., 2001, 2002). The use of various plant extracts in broiler production has been documented (Essien et al; 2007; Nworgu et al 2007; Galib and Noor, 2010). One way is to look for alternative source of feed supplement that is not only cheap and could boost the growth of chickens but organic and readily available.
In an effort to develop new feedstuff for animal feeding, a number of researchers have investigated the proximate composition of neem seed cake (Bawa et al., 2006; Uko and Kamalu, 2001), leaf meal (Oforjindu, 2006; Esonu et al., 2005, 2006; Ogbuewu et al., 2010a,
b) and its use as feedstuff in poultry (Esonu et al., 2005; Oforjindu, 2006; Uko and Kamalu, 2007) and rabbits (Sokunbi and Egbunike, 2000a; Ogbuewu, 2008). Result of proximate analysis of neem showed that of had 92.42% dry matter, 7.58% moisture, 20.68% crude protein, 16.60% crude fibre, 4.13% ether extract, 7.10% ash and 43.91% nitrogen free extract (Esonu et al., 2005; Oforjindu, 2006; Ogbuewu, 2008).
Neem cake has also been widely used as animal feed (Bawa et al., 2006; Uko and 2007). Despite the bitter components, poultry consume diets containing varied percentage of neem cake. Alkali treatment of neem cake with caustic soda yields palatable product, by removing the toxicant triterpenoids (Devakumar and Dev, 1993). Nagalakshmi et al. (1996) and Verma et al. (1998) reported beneficial effect of alkali treated (10-20 g NaOH) neem kernel cake incorporated into poultry feeds. It resulted to an increased feeding value and protein utilization with spectacular growth. However, no significant difference was observed among the different dietary groups in feed intake, egg production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability and chick weight (Nagalakshmi et al., 1996; Verma et al. 1998).
Neem oil and de-oiled neem seed cake are used as animal feed. Neem oil which is rich in long chain fatty acids is used in poultry feed. Deoiled neem seed cake is rich in essential amino acids, crude proteins, fiber contents, sulphur and nitrogen (Uko and Kamalu, 2007
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) belongs to the family of lily; It is spiky, succulent, and perennial. It is native to the eastern and southern part of Africa but it has spread throughout the warmer regions of the world like the Philippines. Physically, it is a short-stemmed plant that could grow from 80 to 100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are lanceolate, thick and fleshy with thorny edges and with color ranging from deep green to greygreen.
It is ubiquitous in almost every house garden and is either used as accents for landscaping or for its medicinal value. Since it is easy to grow and maintain, it is widely used as natural ground cover or container. Aloe vera is not only a natural healer; it’s also a growth enhancer in poultry. Hearing that, one might think, it’s too good to be true. Essentially, the leaves of aloe vera are often for external uses only, they are not meant to be taken in. But with the study of Bejar and Colapo, it’s now clear that it’s safe for animal intake. Thus, it is important to know what’s in the aloe vera that makes it both a natural healer and a growth promoter in chickens.
Physically, the leaf of an aloe vera is composed of three layers. The first layer contains a clear gel, which is contained within the cells of the inner portion. Then there is the anthraquinones contained in the bitter yellow sap of the middle leaf layer and the fibrous outer part of the leaf that serves a protective function.
The content of the aloe vera leaf is just 0.5 – 1.5% solid, with an average pH value of 4.55.
This solid material contains over 75 different nutrients including vitamins and minerals.
Aloe vera is rich in vitamins and minerals. Specific vitamins include: Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Choline, and Folic Acid. The vitamins A, C, and E are responsible for the aloe’s antioxidant activity while vitamin B and choline are involved in amino acid metabolism and vitamin B12 is required for the production and development of blood cells.(source Rita dela cruz of www.bar.gov.ph)
Among the important minerals found in aloe vera are: calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, sodium, and zinc. These minerals are essential for good health and are known to work in synergistic combinations with each other, with vitamins and other trace elements. . (source Rita dela cruz of www.bar.gov.ph
Aside from vitamins and minerals, aloe vera is rich with enzymes (help the breakdown of food sugars and fats), hormones (aid in healing and antiinflammatory activities), sugars (i.e. glucose and fructose that provide antiinflammatory activity), anthraquinones or phenolic compounds (aid absorption from gastro-intestinal tract and have antimicrobial and pain killing effects), lignin (increases the blood circulation), saponins (provide cleansing and antiseptic activity), sterols (antiseptic and analgesic), amino acids (basic building blocks of proteins in the production of muscle tissue), and salicylic acid (works as a pain killer)(source: T. Rita dela cruz of www.bar.gov.ph).
Although the use of various plant extracts in broiler production has been documented, there is paucity of information on the growth and physiological response of broiler birds to oral supplementation with aloe vera and neem leaves extracts.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.
Achieving maximum health and performance of poultry requires nutritionally balanced diets. One of the common issues with regard to back yard flocks relates to poor or inadequate feeding programs that can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the birds. Since vitamins and minerals are very important to normal physiological functioning of birds, inadequate supply of these nutrients will pose a serious problem to birds. It is also costly to use commercial produced vitamins hence increasing the cost of poultry production.....
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