The effects of Myristica fragrans seed meal and Syzygium aromaticum leaf meal dietary supplementation on growth performance and oxidative status of broiler chicken

Abstract

Abstract Background The study examined the effects of Myristica fragrans seed meal (MSM) and Syzygium aromaticum leaf meal (SLM) dietary supplementation on the growth performance, health status, and meat quality of broiler chicken. Methods A total of two hundred and forty 1-day-old broiler chickens were assigned the four dietary treatments: Diet 1/control (no supplementation), Diet 2 (0.25% MSM), Diet 3 (0.25% SLM), and Diet 4 (0.25% MSCM, i.e., MSM + SLM 1:1). The birds were fed ad libitum throughout the feeding trial. Results The dietary supplementation of 0.25% MSCM resulted in higher body weight gain and lowered feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05) at the finisher stage and overall period, while feed intake was not statistically affected (p > 0.05) across the treatments. The dietary inclusion of MSM, SLM, and MSCM did not significantly influence carcass traits, relative internal organ weights, and haematological indices of the broiler chicken (p > 0.05) except mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin content (p < 0.05). The result further revealed that broilers fed diets supplemented with MSM, SLM, and MSCM had higher (p < 0.05) serum catalase, glutathione peroxidase and lowered serum cholesterol compared with control. The meat cholesterol levels and lipid peroxidation of the birds were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced, while glutathione peroxidase was increased by dietary MSM, and MSCM supplementation. Conclusion The MSCM supplementation at 0.25% enhanced the body weight gain, improved serum, and meat glutathione peroxidase and catalase but reduced the broiler’s meat cholesterol level and lipid oxidation.