Bovine testicular fluid enhanced growth performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

Testosterone has been reported to have anabolic influence on various organs of animals. Thus, an experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of crude testosterone in bovine testicular fluid (BTF) on the growth performance of broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty-five broiler chicks (Abore Acre) were used. They were raised for one week and randomly allotted into five treatments consisted of five replicates (five chicks per replicate) under the intensive management system. Four different levels; 25mL, 50mL, 75mL, and 100mL of bovine testicular fluid per litre of water were administered to the birds, while the control birds were offered ordinary water. Feeds (broiler starter and finisher diets) were provided ad libitum on daily basis at weeks 2-4 and 5-8, respectively and clean water was given at free choice throughout the period of the study. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily water intake (ADWI), average daily weight gain (ADWG) per bird, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the birds were determined. At week seven blood was sampled to assay for level of the luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone. The results indicated that ALW and the ADWG of the T5 birds (1850.00g/bird and 43.79g/bird, respectively) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than birds in T1, T2, T3, and T4, while the ADFI of T1, T3 and T4 birds (90.33g/bird, 94.09g/bird, 90.39g/bird respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than T2 (84.60g/bird) and T5 (84.60g/bird). ADWI of the T5 and T4 birds (101.01mL/bird, and 98.68mL/bird, respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than TI (82.13mL/bird), T2 (86.50mL/bird) and T3 (93.01mL/bird) birds. Birds administered 100mL of BTF/litre (T5) had the best percentage carcass yield and feed conversion ratio of 76.60% and 2.11 respectively, among the treatments T1, T2, T3, and T4 birds. The result of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the serum concentration of the sex hormones showed that the expression of the serum testosterone increased as the inclusion levels of the Bovine testicular fluid increased with birds on T5 having significantly (P < 0.05) higher values (3.64 nmol/L) than those on the control (2.60 nmol/L). However, testosterone levels in T2 (3.18 nmol/L), T3 (3.24 nmol/L) and T4 (3.40 nmol/L) was not significantly different from T5. This study suggests that 100ml of bovine testicular fluid per liter of the drinking water can be used as a growth promoter for broiler chickens.

Keywords: Broiler chickens, Natural growth promoter, Bovine testicular fluid, Crude testosterone