Effect of Xylopia aethiopica Dried Fruits (Grains of Selim) as Additive on Performance, Microbial Response and Blood Parameters in Finisher Broilers

The effect of grains of selim (Xylopia aethiopica) as additive on the performance, gut microbes and blood parameters of finisher broilers was investigated. One hundred and ninety five (195) 28 days old broilers (Arbor acres strain) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups with each treatment having three replicates in a completely randomized design. Each treatment group had 39 chicks and 13chicks per replicate. The experiment was done in the Poultry Research Unit of the Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria between November 2013 and January 2014. Well homogenized powdered grains of selim was dissolved and given through drinking water in treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 at concentrations of 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 g per litre but chicks on treatment 1 (control) received 0.3 g/litre of antibiotics (doxygen). Chicks were fed with isoproteinous and isocaloric diets with 20% crude protein and 2905.95 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy ad libitum for four weeks. Results showed no significant differences among treatments in the final body weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain, total feed intake, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. There were no significant differences in the microbial population count of the faeces before and after the birds received treatment of antibiotics and grains of selim in drinking water. There were no significant differences in hematological parameters. However there were significant differences in serological parameters with creatinine, cholesterol and urea values highest in the control but progressively decreased with increased concentration of grains of selim whereas albumin, total protein and globulin values were similar. Results showed that grains of selim has antimicrobial and anthelminthic properties, and have growth promoting potentials in broiler chickens with no adverse health implications.