RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKENS TO IN OVO INJECTION OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF PHYTOBIOTICS (GARLIC, GINGER AND OYSTER MUSHROOM)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated the response of broiler chickens to in ovo injection of aqueous extract of phytobiotics (garlic, ginger and oyster mushroom). The experiment was carried out in two phases (hatchery study and field trials which assessed the influence of in ovo injection of phytobiotics aqueous extract on post-hatch performance of hatchlings). A total of 400 hatching eggs of Cobb 500 strain of Broiler Chicken were purchased from a reputable breeder farm; 358 hatching eggs were found settable. The eggs were weighed to obtained weight equalization, fumigated and set in the incubator. Candling was done on 14th day of incubation and out of the 358 eggs set, 342 were confirmed fertile. The fertile eggs were divided into nine in ovo treatment groups (control; garlic; ginger; oyster mushroom; garlic+ginger; garlic+oyster mushroom; ginger+mushroom; garlic+ginger+oyster mushroom and sham control) each replicated three times. In ovo injection of 0.1ml/egg aqueous extracts of phytobiotics was administered on the 18th day of embryogenesis through the amnion with the use of 24 gauge hypodermic needle. After incubation, data collected on hatching traits and other post-hatch performance indices for a period of 5 weeks; were subjected to Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomized Design. Birds resulting from in ovo injection of ginger+oyster-mushroom treatment had the highest numerical hatchability (100%), while significantly highest chick weight (50.91g/bird) was observed in birds resulting from in ovo injection of garlic compared to the relative results obtained in other treatment groups. At 7 days of age, in ovo injection of aqueous extract of oyster mushroom enhanced better development of the duodenal length (13.86 cm/100g) live weight relative to other treatments; whereas at 35th day, injection of ginger+oyster mushroom improved the duodenal length (1.98 cm/100g live weight) of the broiler chickens. In-ovo administration of aqueous extract of phytobiotics (garlic, ginger and oyster mushroom) did not pose any deleterious effects on the heamatological and serum parameters of broiler chickens as values observed where within reference range values for healthy chickens. In-ovo injection of ginger enhanced a relatively better breast proportion (17.41%) in the broiler chickens; while combined injection of ginger+oyster mushroom resulted to improved thigh percentage (8.62 %) when compared to corresponding results gotten in other groups. At 7 days of age, in ovo injection of garlic+ ginger+oyster mushroom improved the villus height (1099.05 µm) in the birds. In conclusion, in ovo injection of aqueous extract of phytobiotics (garlic+ginger+oyster mushroom) is appropriate for broiler production without adverse effects on the performance.