Physiological response of Nigerian indigenous cocks fed diet with graded levels of tumeric (Cucumma longa)

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the physiological response of Nigerian indigenous chicken (cock) fed graded levels of Tumeric Rhizome Powder (TRP). Sixty (60) adult local cocks divided into 4 groups with 15 birds in each group, replicated into 3 of 5 birds per replicate in each treatment group were used for the study. The birds in the experimental groups designated as T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ were fed with TRP supplemented diet at various inclusion levels of 0.0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%, respectively for 8 weeks. From the results obtained, the growth performance and the relative organ yields were significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced, with an average weight of 121.33 ± 14.70 of the experimental birds in the Turmeric groups. The nutrient digestibility was significantly (p < 0.05) improved with TRP supplemented diet. The result of the organ weight recorded showed the weight of the visceral organs such as heart, liver, lungs, spleen, pancreas and the gizzard relative to body weight were not significantly (p> 0.05) affected by the turmeric supplemented diet compared with the control group, whereas the dressed weight, the size of the kidney, proventriculus and the gall bladder relative to body weight were significantly (p< 0.05) increased, although no statistical difference between the 0.25% and 0.75% inclusion groups compared with the control group. The significant (p< 0.05) increase in the size of proventriculus which is responsible for the mechanical storage of the ingested feed could be attributed to the effect of turmeric supplemented diet compared to control. Also, the gall bladder contained significantly (p< 0.05) increased volume of the bile. In conclusion, Turmeric powder supplemented diet at 0.25 and 0.5 % inclusions performed better in improving the growth of Nigerian indigenous cocks, although care should be exercised in prolonged supplementation above 0.5 % inclusion to prevent its deleterious effect on the blood profile. From the findings in this study, to achieve a better growth performance of the Nigerian indigenous cocks with little or no effect on the relative organ weight, 0.5 % inclusion level is highly recommended.