8. Influence of Camellia sinensis on nutrients digestibility in broiler
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Abstract
Study was conducted on 192 day-old broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) chicks purchased from a commercial distributor of Hyderabad and shifted to the Poultry Experimental Station, Department of Poultry Husbandry, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. The birds were divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D) each group comprised of 48 chicks. The birds in group A were supplemented with 5g/L of Camellia sinensis, group B supplemented with 10g/L of Camellia sinensis, group C supplemented with 15g/L of Camellia sinensis and group D was kept as control without supplementation of Camellia sinensis. The findings of the current study indicated maximum increase of crude protein digestibility (80.33%) in group A where the birds were supplemented with 5g/L of Camellia sinensis and minimum (74.5%) was recorded in group C where the birds were supplemented with 15g/L of Camellia sinensis. Maximum ether extract digestbility (76%) was seen in the group D (Control) while minimum (68%) was recorded in the group C, where the birds were supplemented with 15g/L of Camellia sinensis. Maximum crude fiber digestbility (33.83%) was noted in the group C, however minimum (30.33%) was recorded in the group A. Maximum metabolizable energy (79.66%) was noted in the group D (Control) and minimum metabolizable energy (70%) was recorded in the group C. Statistically, there was significant (p<0.05) difference in digestibility of crude protein among all groups (A, B, C and D), significant (p<0.05) difference was also seen in the digestibility of ether extract among all groups (A, B, C and D). However, concerning digestibility of crude fiber although significant (p<0.05) difference was noted in the group A compared to B, in C compared D, but among group B and C no significant (p>0.05) difference was observed. In conclusion, birds who were supplemented with 5g/L of Camellia sinensis showed maximum digestibility of crude protein, but the birds whose diet was free from Camellia sinensis indicated higher digestibility of ether extract and metabolizable energy. Comparatively, the birds though were supplemented with 15g/L of Camellia sinensis showed maximum digestibility of crude fiber.
Keywords: Broiler; Digestibility; Ether extract; Metabolizable energy; Nutrient; Protein