Effect of supplementing commercial broiler diets with a combination of natural thiosulfinate, cinnamaldehyde, and naphthoquinones on gut health

Abstract

An experiment was conducted for a period of 42 days to study the effect of supplementing herbal extract combination of natural thiosulfinate, cinnamaldehyde and naphthoquinones (TCN) on gut health of broiler chickens. A total of 200, day-old commercial broiler chicks of uniform weight were selected and grouped into four treatments viz., T1 (Control- basal diet), T2 (basal diet with standard antibiotic - 250mg/kg of feed), T3 (basal diet with combination of natural thiosulfinate, cinnamaldehyde and naphthoquinones - [TCN] supplemented at 250 mg/kg diet) and T4 (basal diet with TCN supplemented at 500 mg/kg diet). Diets and supplements were analyzed for nutrient composition as per AOAC (2005) method. Birds were reared on deep litter system under standard managemental practices. The results indicated that the gut microbial count (log10 CFU/g) of experimental birds fed with combination of natural thiosulfinate, cinnamaldehyde and naphthoquinones at 250 mg/kg (T3) and 500 mg/kg (T4) diet revealed significantly (P≤0.05) decreased Escherichia coli count compared with control group (T1) whereas the gut microbial count was similar with antibiotic supplemented group (T2). Herbal extract combinations at 500 mg/kg (T4) revealed significantly (P≤0.05) increased Lactobacillus spp. count compared to control group (T1), whereas similar with groups T2 and T3. While higher Lactobacillus spp. counts were recorded in group supplemented with herbal extracts combination at 500 mg/kg diet (T4). Based on the results of the experiment it was concluded that the supplementing herbal extracts combination of natural thiosulfinate, cinnamaldehyde and naphthoquinones {TCN} at 500 mg/kg broiler diets was beneficial with respect to gut health in broilers.