Growth performance, carcass yield and blood profile of broiler chickens fed diets containing varying levels of thorn apple (Datura stramonium) powder

A total of 180 Ross 308, day-old broiler chicks were used to determine the effect of thorn apple as feed additive on growth performance, carcass, organ characteristics, haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chicken. They were randomly distributed into four (4) treatments of 3 replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. T1 was the control treatment while T2, T3 and T4 contained 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg and 6 g/kg of thorn apple supplementation levels respectively and were arranged in a complete randomized design. Data on growth performance, carcass yield, organ characteristics, haematology and serum were collected. Result revealed that the highest (p < 0.05) weight gain (2.61 kg) and feed intake (4.01 kg) were recorded from broiler chicken fed the diet containing 2 g/kg of thorn apple and the control diet respectively. The best feed conversion ratio (1.35) was recorded for T2 (2 g/kg thorn apple). Highest (p < 0.05) carcass proportion (85.5%) was recorded from broiler chicken fed diet containing 2 g/kg of thorn apple while broiler chicken fed diet containing 0g/kg inclusion of thorn apple had the least (76.12%). Other cut parts were statistically (p > 0.05) similar. Highest (p < 0.05) gizzard and liver (1.79 g and 1.64 g) were recorded from broiler chicken fed diet containing 2 g/kg of thorn apple while broiler chicken fed diet without the inclusion of thorn apple had the least (1.39 g and 1.45 g respectively) values. Highest (p < 0.05) packed cell volume (30.00%) was recorded with broiler chicken fed diet containing 6 g/kg of thorn apple while broiler chicken fed control diet had the least (24.25%). Highest (p < 0.05) Haemoglobin concentration (13.88%) was recorded with broiler chicken fed diet containing 2 g/kg of thorn apple while broiler chicken fed diet without the inclusion of thorn apple had the least (10.35%). Highest (p < 0.05) white blood cell (137.50) was recorded from broiler chicken fed diet containing 2 g/kg of thorn apple while broiler chicken fed diet with 0 g/kg thorn apple had the least (97.00). Highest (p < 0.05) cholesterol (4.18 mmol/L) was recorded with broiler chicken fed the control diet while broiler chicken fed diet containing 2 g/kg of thorn apple had the least (2.15 mmol/L). The research concluded that adding 2 g/kg of thorn apple to the diet of broiler chickens can operate as a growth booster, improving carcass, and organ features, as well as potentially preserving and enhancing the health of the birds.