Influence of garlic extract on antioxidant status of chicken

Abstract

In 2006 the European Union banned the feeding of antibiotic growth promoters because of possible risk of drug resistance in human pathogens bacteria. This is the reason for the study of various phytogenic additives and their extracts as a natural source of biologically important compounds. Antimicrobial substances are a commonly included in chicken feed rations. They are used mainly as prevention against various diseases, and also to stimulate growth. The beneficial effects of garlic on animal organism resulting from their antimicrobial, antioxidative and antihypertensive properities. Studies focused on growth, conversion and meat quality of different types of animals indicate its positive effects. In our experiment we studied the influence of garlic extract in a dose of 0, 10 g and 15 g per 1 kg of chicken feed mixture. We focused on weight gains and antioxidant status of an organism. The experiment took 39 days. 54 seven-day-old chickens were included in the experiment. The chickens were weighed once a week, when aged 11, 17, 24, 31 and 38 days, at the same time of the day. The chickens had ad libitum access to feed ration and water. The chickens were taken blood sample at the end of the experiment when 39 days old. Their antioxidant status were measured using ABTS, FRAP and DPPH methods. Our results show that owing to higher concentration of garlic extract in feed ration the antioxidant status of observed chickens was increased. DPPH method showed an increase in antioxidant status of both experimental groups by 38% (a group with a dose of 10 g/kg of mixture) and by 46% (a group with a dose of 15 g/kg of mixture) compared to the control group. When using FRAP method, antioxidant status of both G10 and G15 groups increased by 24%, resp. 16%. No evidential differences in antioxidant activity between the experimental groups and control group were found using ABTS method. The supplement of garlic extract into a feed ration did not have any influence on weight gains of chickens. The aim of our study is to find out an influence of garlic extract on weight gains, feed consumption, and weight of carcass bodies and antioxidant status of broiler chickens. Keywords MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY Experiment design54 seven-day-old male chickens of Ross 308 type were included in the experiment. Chickens were divided into 3 groups. One group was a control one, other two groups were fed with a feed ration with added garlic extract of concentration 10 and 15 g per 1 kg of feed mixture. Animals and their conditionsChickens were weighed, marked with wing stamps and then divided into groups and put into balancing cages. They were divided into weight-matched groups before the experiment started. Following weightings were done at age of 11, 17, 24, 31 and 38 days, at the same time of the day.Animals could access water and feed ration ad libitum. Feed ration was mixed up from these components: wheat 25%, corn 37%, soya extract grain 28%, sunflower oil 6%, mixture of vitamins and minerals without anticoccidials 3%, monocalciumphosp...