Evaluation of cashew nut meal as phytobiotics in diet of broiler chickens and effects on feed efficiency, growth performance, blood metabolic and antioxidant profiles

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of including cashew nut meal (CNM) in feed on feed efficiency, growth performance and other parameters in broiler chickens during feeding trial. Sixty birds were grouped into three treatments, where T1 (0% CNM) was fed commercial diet only. T2 and T3 were experimental groups maintained on diets containing 2% and 4% CNM, respectively. Growth performance, and feed consumption were monitored weekly. Results revealed that T2 differed significantly (P˂0.05) in growth compared toT1 and T3. However, no significant (p>0.05) difference was noted in blood biochemical parameters. Similarly, the values for serum metabolite were also not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments. However, the values of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, and catalase were significantly (p