AN ASSESSMENT OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF BROILER CHICKENS ORALLY ADMINISTERED SOME PHYTOGENIC ADDITIVES

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) as phytogenic feed additives on the internal organs of broiler chickens. This experiment was conducted at the poultry unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Animal science Department, University of Benin. A total of 200-day old chicks were used which lasted for ten (10) weeks. Birds were randomly allotted to six treatments in a completely randomized design, with each treatment having 32 birds. Turmeric, cloves and black pepper were administered to the broiler chickens at 5 weeks of age at 5g per every 10 liters of water offered to the birds. The results in this study show that there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the phytogenic plants (Turmeric, cloves and black pepper) examined in this study. This result shows that there was no significant difference between the weight of kidney and spleen administered different phytogenic additives. The result shows that the least (48.45g) Liver and Gall bladder was observed in black pepper while the higher (58.07g) was recorded in chicken treated with turmeric plus black pepper. The least length (203.96cm) of intestine was recorded in black pepper and the highest (262.38cm) recorded in broiler chicken treated with Turmeric. The result also shows that phytogenic additives had no significant (p>0.05) effect on broilers heart. Also, black pepper was significantly low in most of the parameters and increases were observed in parameters treated with turmeric and that of turmeric plus cloves. It could be concluded that phytogenic plants such as turmeric, cloves and black pepper has anti-inflammatory properties and can be fed to broilers without deleterious effects in their internal organs. It could also be recommended that turmeric, cloves and black pepper be fed as feed for poultry.