Dietary effects of chitosan and buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum esculentum</i>) on the performance and serum lipid profile of broiler chicks

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) alone or in combination with chitosan, in broiler diets, on the growth, feed intake and serum lipid profile of broilers. Starting as 10-day olds, 144 Cobb 500 broiler chicks were fed six manually prepared diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% or 30% buckwheat, or 10% buckwheat supplemented with 250 mg chitosan or 500 mg chitosan/kg. The trial lasted 32 days. Buckwheat alone or in combination with chitosan had no effects on the growth and feed intake of the broilers. Until 15 days lipid profiles in blood sera did not change in birds fed buckwheat alone or buckwheat in combination with chitosan. However, at day 30 the inclusion of 10% -30% buckwheat alone and 10% buckwheat with 250 mg chitosan/kg or with 500 mg chitosan/kg showed a significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol concentration and a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the serum compared with the control. This demonstrates for the first time that the feeding of higher levels of buckwheat (20% or more) alone or lower levels of buckwheat (10%) with trace amounts of chitosan influenced the lipid profiles of broilers positively. Because hazardous antibiotics are banned in poultry feed, including of buckwheat with trace amounts of chitosan in broiler diets might be a useful alternative to antibiotics in the poultry industry.

Dietary effects of buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum esculentum</i>) and black cumin (<i>Nigella sativa</i>) seed on growth performance, serum lipid profile and intestinal microflora of broiler chicks

“…The findings of our current research are more or less in accordance to the findings of some earlier researchers (Guler et al, 2006;Ziad et al, 2008;Majeed et al, 2010). The current findings and earlier results (Islam et al, 2011;Sayed et al, 2015; suggest that herbal feed additives might be an effective alternative to synthetic antibiotics for the promotion of health and performance of poultry. Several studies have observed that BCS has potential as an alternative to antibiotics and vaccination to improve immunity and to reduce mortality in poultry birds owing to the presence of pharmacologically active constituents such as thymoquinone, dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, nigellicine, nigellimine and nigellidine (Abdur-Rehman & Abu- Bakar, 1997;Osman & El-Barody, 1999).…”

“…In previous studies, the authors observed that supplementation of BWS and BCS powder in diets significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, and the population of E. coli in broilers and layers (Islam et al, 2011;Sayed et al, 2015;. The findings of our current research are more or less in accordance to the findings of some earlier researchers (Guler et al, 2006;Ziad et al, 2008;Majeed et al, 2010).…”

“…In the current study it was observed that BWS and BCS supplementation in broiler diets significantly decreased serum total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, but increased HDL concentrations compared with the control treatment (Figure 1). Similar effects of BCS and BWS on serum lipid profile had been obtained by earlier investigators (Tomotake et al, 2006;Islam et al, 2011;Sayed et al, 2015;. Al-Beitawi & El-Ghousein (2008) supplemented diets reduce plasma cholesterol and triglycerides compared with broiler chicks fed control diet.…”

“…Both BCS and BWS have been reported to possess hypolipidemic and hypocholesteremic properties in animal studies (El-Bagir et al, 2006;Sayed et al, 2015). In the current study it was observed that BWS and BCS supplementation in broiler diets significantly decreased serum total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, but increased HDL concentrations compared with the control treatment (Figure 1).…”

“…As this may negatively affect the profitability of poultry farming, alternative substances and strategies for growth promotion and disease prevention are being investigated, among which phytogenic and herbal products have received increased attention, since they have acquired acceptability among consumers as natural additives (Toghyani et al, 2010). In previous studies the authors found that phytogenic feed additives of plant origin normally proved safe, healthy, ecofriendly, cost effective, not directly associated with problems and less hazardous than synthetic feed additives in poultry production (Islam et al, 2011;Rahman et al, 2013;Islam et al, 2014;Sayed et al, 2015;.…”