University of Dschang, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Productions, Laboratory of Animal Production, PO Box 70 Dschang, Cameroon
Due to the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics and their potential side effects in human, there is a growing interest in plant feed additives in livestock production. This study was designed to assess the effects of dietary inclusion of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit powder on growth performances and serological profile of broiler chickens. A total of 192 day old Cobb 500 chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments of 48 chicks each. Negative control group (R0-) was fed basal diet without supplement, positive control group (R0+) was fed on control diet supplemented with 0.1% antibiotic, groups 3 and 4 were fed on control diet supplemented with 0.2% (0.2T) and 0.4% (0.4T) T. tetraptera fruit powder respectively. Throughout the study period, 0.2% T. tetraptera markedly (P<0.05) increased live body weight as compared to 0.4% and negative control diet. The lowest feed conversion ratio was recorded on chickens fed on antibiotic (2.02) and 0.2% T. tetraptera (2.03). Carcass yield significantly decreased (P<0.05) with 0.4% T. tetraptera fruit powder. The lowest cost of production was recorded with the lowest level (0.2%) of this phytobiotic. 5. Irrespective of the incorporation level, this phytobiotic decreased serum content of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and increased serum concentration of urea compared to the negative control diet. T. tetraptera powder at 0.2% could be used as feed additive to replace antibiotic growth promoter for a better growth performances and to produce antibiotics residues free chicken meat.