Abstract :

 

T

he current experiment was carried out to evaluate the impact of different levels of turmeric (Curcuma longa) as a phytobiotic on the performance and bacterial count of broiler chickens. A total of 240 unsexed day old Cobb chicks were allocated randomly to four dietary treatments each with three replicates of 20 chicks/replicate. Four experimental diets included (T1) a basal diet without turmeric addition (control), (T2) a basal diet with 0.25% turmeric,   (T3) a basal diet with 0.5% turmeric and (T4) basal diet with1% turmeric. The feeding trail was conducted for 42 days. Body weight, weight gain, some carcass characteristics, and bacterial count were recorded. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Results showed that final body weight and weight gain were significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed diet supplemented with different levels of turmeric powder as compared to the control group. Birds fed diet supplemented with 0.25 or 0.5% turmeric powder recorded significantly (P<0.05) improvement in feed conversion ratio, carcass, heart, thymus and spleen percentages as compared to the control group. On the other hand, there were significant (P<0.05) decreases in liver, gizzard and total giblets percentages of birds supplemented with dietary turmeric powder at all levels as compared to the control group. No significant (P>0.05) differences were detected in feed consumption, dressing and bursa of fabricius percentages between dietary treatments. Total bacterial count was significantly (P<0.05) lowest for all supplemented groups as compared to the control. Whereas, coliform group, fecal E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., and Listeria sp. count were significantly (P<0.05) decreased for all supplemented groups as compared to the control. Total lactic acid bacteria count was significantly (P<0.05) increased for all supplemented groups as compared to the control. It could be concluded that, adding turmeric powder supplementation to broiler diet as a growth promoter, at level of 5 g/kg diet recorded superior effects on their productive performance and bacterial count.

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