ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive performance of Nigerian indigenous chicken (cock) fed diet with graded levels of Turmeric Rhizome Powder (TRP). The objectives of the study includes; to determine the effect of TRP on the blood profile, carcass characteristics (relative organ weight), and to evaluate the effect of TRP supplemented diet on the reproductive and growth performance of Nigerian indigenous cocks. One hundred and twenty (120) adult local breeder cocks divided into 4 groups with 30 birds in each 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, 0.0%, 0.25%, 0.50 %, and 0.75%, respectively for 8 weeks. The blood samples collected from the treatment groups and analyzed using Hemo-analyzer showed a gradual (p<0.05) decline or decrease in the haematology and serum parameters in the TRP groups compared with the control. Semen samples were also collected using abdominal massage technique from all the experimental groups and analyzed. From the results obtained, the group fed with 0.50 % inclusion had the highest semen volume 0.80 ± 0.06 ml significantly (p<0.05) better than the mean volume of 0.49±0.08 ml in the group without Turmeric powder. The semen consistency, motility, total number of viable spermatozoa, the total number of sperm cell/ejaculate, and the reproductive morphometric were significantly (p<0.05) improved in the TRP supplemented group better than the control group. Sperm cell concentration was increased from 3.35 ± 0.07 in the control group to the range 4.05 ± 0.18 – 4.75 ± 0.22 106/cell in the TRP groups. The TRP did not significantly (p> 0.05) affect the spermatozoa morphology in all the treatment groups. The result of the seminal plasma biochemistry showed that the graded levels of turmeric especially at 0.50 % significantly (p<0.05) elevated the values of seminal glucose, albumin, and potassium, calcium, chloride ions which is believed to be the reason for the improved semen quality recorded in this study. The turmeric at 0.50 % inclusion level significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the reproductive morphometric characteristics evaluated in this study. The growth performance and the carcass yield were significantly (p<0.05) improved, with an average weight of 1.33 kg of the experimental birds in the Turmeric groups. In conclusion, turmeric powder supplemented diet at 0.25, and 0.5 % inclusions performed better in improving the growth performance, the reproductive morphometric, seminal plasma biochemistry and the semen characteristics of Nigerian indigenous cocks. From the study, to achieve a better growth performance and good semen quality of the Nigerian indigenous cocks with little or no effect on the blood profile, 0.5 % inclusion level is highly recommended.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vii
List of Tables xi
Abstract
xii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Information 1
1.2
Statement of Problem 4
1.3
Aim of the Study 5
1.4
Objectives of the Study 5
1.5
Justification of the Study 5
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF
RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Definition
of Poultry
7
2.2 Indigenous/Native
Breeds of Chickens
10
2.3 Origin
and Distribution of Nigerian Indigenous Chicken 12
2.3.1
Genetic background of Nigerian
indigenous chicken 14
2.3.2 Characteristics
of indigenous chicken 15
2.3.3 Meat
quality and consumer’s preference for the indigenous chicken 15
2.3.4 Importance of local or indigenous chicken in
Nigeria 17
2.3.5 Indigenous
chickens and future breed development 17
2.4 Productive and Reproductive Performance
of the Local Chicken 18
2.4.1 Growth
performance 18
2.4.2 Egg
production 19
2.4.3 Fertility
and hatchability of eggs 20
2.4.4 Production
systems 20
2.5
Nutrient
Requirements and Performance of Indigenous Chickens 22
2.5.1 Feeding
regime development 25
2.6 History, Cultivation, and Processing Of
Turmeric 26
2.6.1 History
of turmeric 26
2.6.2 Botany
and description of turmeric 27
2.6.3 Description
of turmeric 28
2.6.4 Preparation
of turmeric powder 29
2.6.5 Composition
of turmeric 29
2.7 Consumption
and Importance of Turmeric 30
2.8 Safety, Efficacy and Contraindications 32
2.8.1
Toxic effect of TRP on morphological indicators 32
2.8.2 Active constituents of turmeric rhizome
powder (TRP) 33
2.8.3 Phytochemical
contents of turmeric 34
2.8.4 Biological activities of turmeric and its
constituents 34
2.9 Turmeric
as a Traditional Medicine 36
2.10 The
Use TRP in the Control of Poultry Diseases 42
2.11 The Influence of TRP on
Haematological, Biochemical and
Immunological Indicators of Poultry Health 46
CHAPTER
3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Experimental
Site 52
3.2 Sourcing
and Processing of Test Ingredient 52
3.3 Analysis
of Experimental Diet/Test Ingredient 53
3.3.1 Determination
of proximate composition (TRP) 53
3.3.2 Determination
of phytochemical composition 53
3.4 Management of Experimental Animals 54
3.5 Duration of Experiment/ Haematology 55
3.5.1 Haematological
indices 55
3.5.2 Determination
of serum profile 55
3.6 Semen Collection 55
3.7
Semen Evaluation 56
3.7.1 Macroscopic
examination 56
3.7.2 Microscopic
examination 56
3.7.3 Seminal plasma biochemical parameters 59
3.8
Morphometric Organ Weight
Evaluated 59
3.9 Statistical Analysis 60
3.10 Experimental
Design 60
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
4.1 Effect
of Turmeric on Haematology of the Experimental Birds 61
4.2 Effect of Turmeric on Serum Profile 63
4.3 Relative Organ Weight 65
4.4 Effect of Turmeric on Semen
Characteristics 67
4.5 Effect of Turmeric on Differential
Abnormalities 70
4.6 Effect of Turmeric on the Reproductive
Morphometrics 72
4.7
Effect of Tumeric on Growth
Performance 73
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Conclusion 76
5.2
Recommendations 77
References 78
LIST OF TABLES
3.1 Proximate composition of Turmeric
Rhizome Powder (TRP) 53
3.2 Phytochemical composition of TRP 53
3.3 Experimental
diet level (%) of TRP 54
3.4 Calculated composition of TRP 54
3.5 Descriptive and numerical scales for
evaluation of microscopic pattern of
semen 57
4.1 Effect of turmeric on haematology 61
4.2
Effect of turmeric powder on
serum profile 63
4.3 Effect
of turmeric on the visceral organs (Relative organ weight / viscerosomatic
index) 65
4.4 Effect of turmeric powder on semen
characteristics 67
4.5
Effect of turmeric powder on
differential abnormalities 70
4.6 Effect of turmeric powder on
reproductive morphometric (Gonadosomatic
index) 72
4.7 Effect of turmeric powder on growth
performance 73
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Smallholder societies
throughout the world in general and developing countries in particular use
poultry for multipurpose uses including, as source of income and means of food
security, cultural and Social values such as rituals, sacrifice
and symbolism., gifts to
strengthen social bonds., and source of Economic empowerment
for women (FAO, 2010). Attributed to their source of income, high
quality animal protein, ability to be kept under limited inputs and management
and adaptability to different, Agro-climates, chickens are the most important
and widely produced avian species in developing countries by resource limited
families (kondombo, 2005).
With gradually rising human population, an
increasing demand for poultry meat is expected in the nearest future. For this reason poultry health is an important issue. Due to
the extremely crowded hen houses and consequently poor hygiene, the antibiotics
are extensively used to maintain health and activate bird growth (Boeckel et al., 2015). This is a problem since
anti-microbial resistance can be
derived from the
abusive usage of
antibiotics, and thus greater
regulatory efforts are
needed (Landers et al.,
2012; World Health Organization-WHO,
2012). Moreover, in many
countries there are
laws and welfare code protecting farm
animals, including poultry, from
distress and fear (Main, 2009 and Bonafoes et al, 2010). In line
with the above
requirements, some plant-derived
active compounds, as those present
in turmeric, can be in used
to reduce antibiotic
overuse and simultaneously increase
animal welfare (Palaniappan and holey, 2010).
Indigenous chicken constitute
80% of the
120 million poultry
types raised in the
rural areas in Nigeria
(RIM, 1992). They are
self-reliant and, hardy
birds with the
capacity to withstand harsh weather condition and
adaptation to adverse
environment. They are
known to possess qualities
such as the ability
to hatch their
own eggs, brood
and scavenge for
major parts of
their food and
possess appreciated immunity
from endermic diseases .
Their products are
preferred by the
majority of Nigerians because
of the pigmentation,
taste, leanness and
suitability for special dishes (Horst, 1989). The outputs (egg and
meat) are readily
available to villagers and
people in urban,
semi-urban areas thus
serve as a
good source of
protein in their
diet, in the same
vein, they serve
as good income (Sonaiya et al., 1999). The local
chicken of Nigeria
is small in
size and grow
slowly. There have
been reports on
the characterization of
the local chicken
in Nigeria and
it`s potential for
egg and meat
production (Nwosu, 1979 and Adebambo, 2005). Even
though the productivity
of local chicken
is poor, they
are very important
to withstand certain
harsh environmental conditions,
can perform better under
poor management than
cross and exotic
breeds, they are
also well known
to possess desirable
characters such as
ideal mother, good
sister, hatch their
eggs, excellent foragers , resistant to
common poultry diseases and
special meat and
egg qualities (flavor),
hard egg shells ( Abdelqader et al.,
2007).
In
Nigeria, indigenous chickens
were characterized along
genetic lines of
feather and plumage
color (such as
normal or frizzled
feathers), body structure
(such as naked
neck, dwarf types)
and color variants
(such as black,
white, brown, mottled
etc). The frequency distribution
of the normal
feathered chicken was
about 91.8% while
that of frizzled
and naked neck were 5.2
and 3.0%, respectively
in Bayelsa state
of Nigeria (Ajayi and Agaviezor,
2009). Most of the classification by
different agro-ecological zones
considered mainly the
normal feathered indigenous
chicken because they
are the most
prominent whereas the
naked neck and frizzled
feathered are rare
and almost becoming
endangered and the gene
pool they represent
may be lost
if not characterized
and conserved. It was
agreed by various
researchers that the
Nigerian chicken is
a light breed,
often with single
comb and that
the black and
brown plumage, laced with
various colors such
as mottling are
common (Adebambo, 2005 ). Recent
works revealed that
the different ecotypes can be
grouped into two
major categories on
the basis of
body size, weight
as heavy ecotype
and light ecotype
(Momoh et al., 2007 ).
Genetic improvement
of chicken is
important in order
to increase their
contribution to the
much needed animal
protein in Nigeria
(Ganiyu et al., 2016).
One of the
ways to enhance the
Commercial value of the local
chicken is to
improve their fertility
and breeding performance (Imasuen et al., 2016). Hence it is important
to improve the
hormonal profile and
morphometric organ weight.
The productive potential
of poultry birds
(cocks) is determined
to a large extent
by the quality
of the semen it produces. The assessment of
semen quality characteristic of
Nigerian local chicken
gives excellent indices
of its reproductive
potential and has
been reported to be
a major determinant
of fertility and subsequent
hatchability of eggs
(Peters et al., 2004).
Bioactive
plant substance in
which have been
proved to be
very effective in
animal nutrition May
include the stimulation
of appetite and
feed intake, improvement
of endogenous digestive enzyme secretion,
activation of immune
response, antibacterial, antiviral
and antioxidant actions (Toghyani et al
., 2010; 2011 ). Turmeric (Curcuma
longa) is a tropical plant native of Southern and South-eastern tropical
Asia. The main yellow bioactive
substances isolated from
the rhizomes of
curcuma are Curcumin demothxycurcumin and Bisdemethoxy curcumin
which is present to the
extent of 2-5%
of the total
spice in turmeric. Curcumin is the
main important bioactive
ingredient responsible for the
biological activity of
turmeric. Curcumin has been shown
to have several
biological effects exhibiting anti – inflammatory (Holt et al., 2005 ), antioxidant
(Igbal et al ., 2003) and
hypolipidaemic (Ramiriz-Toritosa et
al., 1999). It is used in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders
(Anwarul et al., 2006). The significant biological properties of turmeric
powder makes it a potential substitute for feed antibiotics in livestock
diets. A number of
studies have been
conducted to evaluate
its effects on
the performance of
broiler chickens, (Suriya et al.,
2012; Nayaka et al.,
2013; Abou-Elkhair et al., 2014;
Olukosi and Dono, 2014). However the
results of these studies
have been inconsistent
keeping in view of
the medicinal attributes of
Curcuma longa, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of
increasing levels of Turmeric Rhizome
Extract (TRE) on the hormonal, immune response and
reproductive performance of
indigenous cocks.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
The decline in poultry production, poor
quality chicks that are prone to disease, heat stress, and poor adaptability to
the environment is among the factors affecting poultry industry in Nigeria. The
problem is how to provide alternative feed for producing quality chicks with
disease resistance, heat tolerant and adaptability to the tropical environment
through quality semen, hence semen characteristics of Nigerian local chickens
are to provide alternative production of chicks through in-vivo fertilization.
1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research work is to
describe and analyse the use of turmeric rhizome powder as feed supplement for
indigenous cocks and so its effect on animal health, reproductive performance
and welfare.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
objectives of the study were to:
(1) determine
the effect of turmeric powder on the haematology of Nigerian indigenous cocks;
(2) determine
the effect of turmeric powder on the serum profile of indigenous Nigerian
cocks;
(3) ascertain
the effect of turmeric powder on the visceral organs of indigenous Nigerian
cocks;
(4) evaluate
the effect of turmeric powder supplemented diet on the reproductive performance
of Nigerian indigenous cock which are;
a) Semen
characteristics and morphology,
b) Reproductive
morphometrics, and
(5) evaluate
the effect of turmeric powder supplemented diet on the growth performance of
Nigerian indigenous cock.
1.5
JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
The Nigerian local chickens constitute
between 80 and 90% of the local population of chickens in Nigeria. Fertility is
an important parameter that determines the profitability of the poultry
enterprise .Semen quality characteristics of poultry birds gives an excellent
indicator of their reproductive potential and has been reported to be a major
determinant of fertility and subsequent hatchability of eggs. There is need to
evaluate the semen characteristics of this local chickens.
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