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Apr 30, 2022Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Effects of Monodora myristica Spice and Aspergillus flavus in Broiler Diet on Chemical Composition, Feed cost and liver Injury in Broiler Chickens
Abstract
A research work that lasted for 42 days was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect, feed cost and chemical composition of Monodora myristica in Aspergillus flavus-infected broiler diets on broiler chickens. It was a 2x3 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design to evaluate the cost implication and the hepatoprotective effects of Monodora myristica and A. flavus in broiler diets. Three out of six treatments designated as T1, T2 and T3 were infected with 2mg of pure culture of Aspergillus flavus fungi, obtained from the plant pathology department of the National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike. Toasted M.myristica was included at 0%, 0.5% and 1.0% to T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The remaining three diets designated as T4, T5 and T6 were A.flavus-free and also had 0%, 0.5% and 1.0% toasted M.myristica respectively. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 30 chickens per replicate. Toasting improved ash and nitrogen-free extract of M.myristica. Vitamin B2, tannins, flavonoids, phenol and saponin were reduced by toasting the spice, while, the minerals except copper, zinc, iron and lead were increased in the toasted Monodora myristica. A 1.0% Monodora increased the crude fibre content of the diets. Cost per kg weight gain was higher in birds fed infected diets, thus reducing the gross margin. A.flavus recorded high levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). However, in the absence of infection, the impact of Monodora myristica was not effective (P<0.05) beyond 0.5%. Monodora myristica could be beneficial in A. flavus-infected broiler diets.
