UN SDG
Livestock Studies
2024, Vol 64, Num, 1 (Pages: 008-016)
Carcass Characteristics, Meat Antioxidative State, and Gut Microbiota of Broilers Fed With a Mixture of Bitter Melon and Basil Leaves Powder
2 Agricultural Technology Department, the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
3 Animal Health and Production Department, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Nigeria
4 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Nigeria DOI : 10.46897/livestockstudies.1508950 - The impact of a mixture of bitter melon leaf and basil leaf powder (BBLPB) on the carcass characteristics, meat antioxidant state, and gut microbiota of broilers was investigated. Three hundred one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were allocated to five diets: diet 1 (negative control), diet 2 (positive control; 0.1% blend of probiotic, prebiotic, and acidifier (BPPA) supplementation), diets 3 (0.25% BBLPB), 4 (0.5% BBLPB), and 5 (0.75% BBLPB) randomly. The 0.25% BBLPB supplementation improved (P < 0.05) slaughtered weight, dressed weight, dressing %, and growth rate of broilers, while organ weights remained unchanged (P > 0.05). Slaughtered weight recorded in diets 2 and 3 was higher (P<0.05) than those in the rest diets. The dressing percentages in diets 2 (76.45%), 3 (75.6%), and 1 (73.96%) were statistically equivalent but higher (P<0.05) than diets 4 (72.12%) and 5 (70.34%). Dietary supplementation with BBLPB significantly increased (P < 0.05) muscle glutathione peroxidase concentration while reducing meat lipid oxidation and cholesterol content in broilers compared to the control. Broilers fed BBLPB-supplemented diets exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of lactic acid-producing bacteria in the gut compared to the control group. The 0.25% BBLPB supplementation enhanced broilers carcass characteristics, meat quality, and gut health. Keywords : Basil leaves, Bitter melon leaf, Feed additives, Oxidative stress, Broiler
