Feeding of Phytobiotics and Exogenous Protease in Broilers: Comparative Effect on Nutrient Digestibility, Bone Strength and Gut Morphology

Abdul Hafeez, Shahid Iqbal, Arbab Sikandar, Salahud Din, Imad Khan, Saima Ashraf, Rifat Ullah Khan, Vincenzo Tufarelli and Vito Laudadio
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Abdul Hafeez: Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
Shahid Iqbal: Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
Arbab Sikandar: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (Sub Campus, Jhang), University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Salahud Din: Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Imad Khan: College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
Saima Ashraf: Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Rifat Ullah Khan: College of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
Vincenzo Tufarelli: Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, Department of DETO, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy
Vito Laudadio: Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, Department of DETO, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Valenzano, 70010 Bari, Italy

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-8

Abstract: In this feeding trial, a total of 500 Cobb-500 broiler (day-old) chickens were randomly assigned to a control dietary treatment (basal diet only) or supplemented with crushed seeds of coriander ( Coriandrum sativum L.), black cumin ( Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch ) and ajwain ( Carum copticum L.) (at 10 mg/kg each) and exogenous protease (30,000 IU/kg), respectively, in order to assess the effect of the diets on nutrient digestibility, bone strength and gut morphology. The results indicated that the digestibility coefficients of crude protein, crude fat, nitrogen-free extract, calcium and phosphorous were significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in protease-treated birds compared to the control. The tibia bone weight was improved ( p = 0.03) in Carum copticum , Coriandrum sativum and protease-supplemented birds. Bone length increased ( p < 0.05) in protease and Carum copticum fed broilers, while the robusticity index decreased ( p < 0.05) in all treatments. Villus length and width decreased ( p < 0.05) in Carum copticum and Bunium persicum fed broilers. From findings, it was demonstrated that exogenous protease shows comparatively better results in improving bone quality, ileal digestibility and villus morphology in broilers.

Keywords: broiler; feed additives; phytobiotics; protease enzymes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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