Nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, carcass yield and meat microbiology of broilers fed diets supplemented Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica), Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and their composite

Abstract

Abstract The effect of dietary supplementation of Ethiopian pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and their composite on nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, carcass yield and meat microbiology were investigated in a 52-day boiler feeding trial. Three hundred and sixty unsexed Ross broilers were used for the study. Four experimental diets were formulated for the tarter (0-28days) and finisher (29-56days) phases; Diet 1 was the control without Phytogenic supplementation, Diet 2 (supplemented with 1% Ethiopian pepper (EP)), Diet 3 (supplemented with 1% Clove (CL)) and Diet 4 (supplemented with 1% mix of equal quantity (0.5% each) of Ethiopian pepper and clove (EPCL)). Each treatment was replicated 6 times with 15 birds per replicate. Nutrient digestibility was determined on days 28 and 56, gut microflora was determined for the small intestine and caecum on day 56, carcass yield, organ weights and meat microbiology were also determined on day 56. Data obtained were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance using SAS 2000 and significant means were separated using Tukey’s test in the same software. At day 28, broilers fed the diet supplemented EPCL had the highest (P < 0.05) dry matter digestibility (DMD, 86.81%) and crude protein digestibility (CPD, 71.28%). Increased (P < 0.05) ether extract digestibility (EED) was observed for broilers fed the diet supplemented CL (75.27%) and EPCL (76.43%). At day 56, broilers fed the diet supplemented CL and those fed the EPCL supplemented diet had increased (P < 0.05) CPD (78.07%, 79.35%) and EED (70.20%, 71.42%). Intestinal clostridium count reduced (P < 0.05) and lactobacillus count increased (P < 0.05) in the intestine and caecum of broilers fed the diet supplemented CL and those fed EPCL supplemented diet. Intestinal coliform and salmonella count reduced (P < 0.05) for broilers fed the diet supplemented EP and those fed the EPCL supplemented diet. Dietary supplementation of EPCL resulted in the highest (P < 0.05) body weight (BW, 2551.38g), dressing percentage (DP, 81.68%) and breast weight (510.20g). Supplementation of EP, CL, and EPCL in the diet of broilers resulted in higher (P < 0.05) spleen weight while dietary supplementation of EP and EPCL resulted in higher (P < 0.05) thymus weight. Clostridium count was reduced (P < 0.05) in the meat of broilers fed the diet supplemented CL and EPCL and the lowest (P < 0.05) salmonella count was observed in the meat of broilers fed the diet supplemented with EPCL. In conclusion, the current study reveals that dietary supplementation with EPCL composite improves nutrient digestibility, gut microflora, dressing percentage with reduced meat microbial load of broilers.