¹Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

²Laboratory Department, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

³Department of Animal science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse Jigawa State, Nigeria.

^†*Corresponding Authors Contact Detail: E-mail Addresses ✉: foristsalam@yahoo.com; florenceobadire@gmail.com

Accepted November 22, 2023

In a quest to achieve optimum output in poultry products through the use of organic livestock production with natural spices in our locality as phytogenic feed additives, this study was conducted to determine the effect of Piper guineense (PG) seed and Curcuma longa (CL)powder on performance, hematological and biochemical indices of finisher broiler chickens. A total of 270 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were raised on litter-floored pens and had ad libitum access to water and feed for 56 days. The birds were randomly allocated to nine dietary treatments with 10 birds per treatment replicated 3 times laid out in a 3 by 3 factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD having three dietary inclusions of Piper guineense, Curcuma longa and a combination of (Piper guineense + Curcuma longa) at inclusion levels of 0, 2 and 4 %. Experimental diets were formulated such that they contained 0, 2 and 4 % Piper guineense, 0, 2 and 4 %, turmeric and 0, 2 and 4 % Piper guineense + Curcuma longa on a 1:1 basis, respectively. The result revealed that birds fed Turmeric and their combination (PG + CL) obtained the highest significant (P<0.05) final weight, weight gain and feed intake. Birds fed 4% dietary additive obtained increased final weight, weight gain, feed intake and the best Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). All hematological parameters were not significant (P>0.05) except for Pack cell volume (PCV), Hb and RBC. The PCV value of birds on Curcuma longa and their combinations (PG + CL) was significantly (P<0.05) higher. Dietary additives at 4 % significantly (P<0.05) increased the PCV, Hb and Red Blood Cell (RBC) of the birds compared to others. The serum result of dietary additives at 4 % showed significant (P<0.05) higher TP, Albumin, Globulin and glucose. Significantly (P<0.05) higher cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL values were obtained in birds fed 0% diet. Meanwhile, the HDL of birds at 4 % and 2 % were higher. The creatinine, ALT, ALP, AST and uric acid were not affected. In conclusion, the inclusion of different dietary additives either singly or their combination levels resulted to better growth performances and did not hamper with the health.

Key words: Prebiotics Performance, Hematological and serum biochemical indices.

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