Joint Research and Innovation Unit for Agricultural Sciences and Transformation Processes, National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët Boigny, BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
Broiler chicken production in developing countries faces challenges in balancing growth performance, health, and food safety. This study pointed out the effects of Secamone afzelii aerial parts meal on broiler growth, and their health. A total of 300 broiler chicks of twenty-one days old were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments containing 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, or 2.5% S. afzelii aerial parts meal for 49 days. Performance parameters, serum lipid profiles, Hematological indices and carcass traits were assessed. Inclusion of 1.5-2.5% S. afzelii significantly increased final body weight and average daily gain while improving feed conversion ratio. Birds fed supplemented diets exhibited no morbidity, in contrast to control birds receiving medical treatments. Serum analyses revealed decreased total cholesterol and LDL and elevated HDL levels with increasing S. afzelii content. Carcass yield improved and abdominal fat decreased, particularly in diets containing 1.5-2.5% of S. afzelii aerial parts meal in supplementation. Moreover, total white blood cell and lymphocyte counts were significantly reduced in birds receiving diets containing 1-2.5% of S. afzelii aerial parts meal in supplementation. Overall, S. afzelii aerial parts meal is a promising natural feed supplement that promotes broiler growth and health, providing a sustainable alternative to synthetic additives in poultry nutrition.