EVALUATION OF ASTERACANTHA LONGIFOLIA AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTIC GROWTH PROMOTER IN BROILER CHICKS
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Date
2016
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Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg
Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of Asteracantha longifolia as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter in broiler chicks. At first the plant was shade dried and powdered with help of electrical grinder and this Asteracantha longidolia powder (ALP) was used to study of growth performance study in this experiment. The ALP was also extracted with methanol in Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was evaporated to dryness and hereafter referred as Asteracantha longifolia extract (ALE). The experiment was carried out in the poultry shed, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Anjora, Durg, Chhattisgarh. A total of 126 broiler chicks (Ven Cobb 400) were used in this experiment. They were randomly assigned to into three treatment groups with three replicates each. This experiment was initiated during the month of May and June 2016 under deep litter system providing standard feeding, watering and good hygienic condition. This experiment was carried out for 42 days. The treatment groups were: group T1 (Control) consists of basal diet without any feed additive, group T2 (Standard) comprises of basal diet with lincomycin as an antibiotic @ 0.05% in feed, group T3 supplemented with of Asteracantha longifolia powder (ALP) @ 20g/kg in feed. Limit test was performed as per OECD guideline (OECD, 1998) to evaluate the acute oral toxicity of Asteracantha longifolia Extract (ALE) in female albino rats orally with the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. The extract was initially subjected to phytochemical analysis. Growth parameters (average live weight, average body weight gain, average
cumulative body weight gain, average feed intake, average cumulative feed intake, average feed conversion ratio and average cumulative feed conversion ratio) were recorded weekly. Two birds from each replicate were sacrificed on 42th day of the experiment for the study of hematological and biochemical parameters and for immunological studies rest 36 birds were used (18 for cell mediated immune response and 18 for humoral immune response).
Soxhlet extraction of dried powder of Asteracantha longifolia yielded about 16.00%, mathanolic extract. Which was found to be completely soluble in water.
Results of the acute toxicity test revealed that the oral LD50 value of ALE is above 2000 mg/kg and the compounds are practically non-toxic. Preliminary phytochemical screening of ALE revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponin and phenol compounds.
Results of the study indicated that the average live weight at the sixth week of age of the groups T3 (2110.97g) was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to T1 (1695.73g) and T2 (1900.1). At the end of sixth week of age, the groups T3 and T2 had significantly (P<0.05) higher average cumulative body weight gain as compared to T1.At the end of sixth week, this investigation showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the average weekly cumulative Feed intake of the groups T3 than the groups T1 and T2.
At the end of sixth week, this investigation showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the average weekly cumulative FCR of the groups T3 (1.71) and T2 (2.0) over T1 (2.28).
The present investigation showed a significantly (P<0.05) higher level of Hb, PCV, TEC and TLC in the group T3 as compared to T1 and T2.
The blood glucose levels of group T2 was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to both T1 and T3. However, no significant difference was observed in the level of blood glucose of the group T1 and T3. There was also significant (P<0.05) increase in total protein and albumin level of the group T3 as compared to group T1.The present study showed no significant (P<0.05) differences in the level of globulin, A/G ratio, uric acid, creatinine, phosphorus, calcium and AST amongst the different groups.
The broiler chicks supplemented with Asteracantha longifolia showed significant increase in the skin thickness in DNFB test at 24hr post challenge indicated stimulation of cell mediated immunity at 24hr post challenge DNFB skin contact sensitization as compared to control and standard groups at 24hr. However, no significant difference was observed in the Humoral immune responses among groups T1, T2 and T3.
The economic evaluation showed maximum profit per bird in the birds supplemented with ALP in feed (Rs. 41.64) followed by lincomycin (Rs 30.64) as compared to control (Rs 5.12). Thus broiler birds in group T3 and T2 earned more profit than group T1.
Based on above findings, it can be concluded that Asteracantha longifolia is capable in enhancing the growth of broiler chicks as compared to control. The growth promoting effects of Asteracntha longifolia is better than standard of AGP. Asteracantha longifolia also didn‟t show any adverse effects on health status of birds as evident from their haematological and biochemical studies.
Therefore, the ALP may be used as alternative to antibiotic growth promoter to enhance the growth performance in broiler birds while avoiding the development of drug resistance associated with the antibiotic growth promoters.
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