Effect of dietary L- Carnitine supplementation of diets containing cashew nut reject meal by broiler chickens

Abstract

In a completely randomized designed, two hundred and forty day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5mg kg^-1 Lcarnitine. Each of the diets contained equal amount of maize and cashew nut reject meal (CNRM). The birds were randomly divided into sixteen groups of fifteen chicks each after weight equalisation. Each diet was assigned to four groups of birds representing four replicates per experimental diet. Measurements taken during starting and finishing phases included average live weight, average weight gain, average feed intake while feed to gain ratio was calculated. Nutrient digestibility of the experimental diets was also evaluated. Results between 0-4weeks indicated that body weights ranged from 673.71g in the birds that received 2.5mgkg^-1 to 700.21g in the birds that received 7.5mgkg^-1 L-carnitine. Weight gain and feed intake values were significantly (P<0.05) affected by L-carnitine levels. Feed to gain ratio values were elevated when birds were fed 0 and 2.5mgkg^-1 L-carnitine levels. Evaluation of nutrient utilization showed a significant (P<0.05) influence on crude protein and ether extract values. Between 5-8 weeks of rearing, feed intake increased (P<0.05) as Lcarnitine levels increased in diets while lower (P<0.05) feed to gain value was recorded at high level of dietary L-carnitine. Nutrients utilization parameters were not affected (P>0.05) during finishing phase. Overall results showed that highest body weight and weight gain were obtained in the group that received 7.5mgkg^-1 L-carnitine supplementation. The study showed that supplementing CNRM diets up to 7.5mgkg^-1 is beneficial to growth and utilization of broiler chickens. However, this was more effective at the starter phase.

Keywords: L-carnitine, cashew nut reject meal, broiler birds