ABSTRACT
Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of varying levels of black seed (Nigella sativa) powder supplementation on performance, thermoregulatory performance, blood profile and histopathology of broiler chickens during hot season. The first experiment had a total of 180 one week old broiler chicks which were randomly assigned to four treatments. The birds in each group were further divided into three (3) replicates with 15 chickens in a completely randomized design (CRD). Birds in all the treatment groups were fed same diet for the starter phase and then supplemented with Nigella sativa powder at 0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg of diet to the end of 4weeks, on the last day the growth performance, thermoregulatory parameters and the haematology were investigated. Also at the finisher phase the same diet was given to all the treatments with the same design and supplementations were varied at 0, 10, 20, and 30g/kg for treatment 1 to 4 respectively. Results of the first experiment showed that supplementation of Nigella sativa in hot season significantly (P<0.05) increased the final body weight, weight gain and daily weight gain with decreased mortality as in the supplemented groups compared to the control. Also both the thermoregulatory parameters and the Haematological parameters were better in the supplemented groups compare to the control. In the second experiment the results of the performance showed better final weight and relative weight of the liver, gizzard, proventriclus, spleen, kidney and the thymus compared to the control. Thermoregulatory parameters measured at the end of 8weeks showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in both the body temperature and the respiratory rate on the supplemented groups compared to the control. Haematological parameters also indicated significant (p<0.05) for PCV, Hb, WBC and RBC of while Total protein, albumin and globulin showed no significant difference at (p>0.05). The histopathological findings clearly depicts no toxic effect as all tissues were not distorted. In conclusion, black seed can be supplemented to broiler chickens during hot season to improve performance, thermoregulation, and blood profile without any detrimental effect to broiler chickens as shown by the Histopathology.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover page…………………………………………………………………………………………
Fly Page……………………………………………………………………………………………
Title Page…………………………………………………………………………………………i
Declaration ……………………………………………………………………………………….ii
Certification……………………………………………………………………………………….iii
Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………..iv
Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………v
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………….vii
Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………………….viii
CHAPTER ONE…………………………………………………………………………………..1
INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………….……..……1
JUSTIFICATION …………………………………………………………………………………3
STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS ……………………………………………………………….4
OBJECTIVES …………………………………………………………………………………….4
CHAPTER TWO ………………………………………………………………………….………6
LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………………………………………………6
2.1 Definition of Broiler ………………………………………………………………………….6
2.2 Nutrients Requirement of Broiler …………………………………………………………….6
2. 3 Temperature Effects on Poultry .…………………………………………………………..7
2.4 Heat Stress in Poultry ………………………………………………………………………. 8
2.4.1 Definition of stress ……………………………………………………………………..…8
2.4.2 Effects of heat Stress on Behavioral and Physiological Status of Animals …………….. 9
2.4.3 General effect of heat stress on animals …………………………………………………. 10
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2.4.4 Effect of heat stress on the immune response ……………………………………………..11
2.5 Black Seed (Nigella sativa L.,) ………………………………………………………………12
2.5.1 Scientific classification of the plant seed …………………………………………………13
2.5.2 Synonym of black seed in various language ………………………………………….….13
2.6 Utilization of Black Seed (Nigella sativa) on Broiler Health and Production ……………. 18
2.7 Haematology ………………………………………………………………………….……..19
2.8 Biochemicals………………………………………………………………………..……….21
CHAPTER THREE ………………………………………………………… 24
MATERIALS AND METHOD ……………………………………………. 24
3.1 Experiment 1 (one): Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on weight gain, haematological and thermoregulatory parameters of broiler chicks (starter phase)……………………………. 24
3.1.2 Experimental Site …. ……………………………………………………………………24
3.1.2 Source of Experimental Materials ………………………………………………………24
3.1.3 Chemical Analysis of Black Seed (Nigella sativa) Powder …………………………….24
3.1.4 Experimental Design and Management of Birds ………………..…….25
3.1.5 Experimental Diet ..……………………………………………………………………..25
3.1.6 Parameters Measured ……………………………………………………………………27
3.1.6.1Rectal temperature and respiratory rate …………………………………………………27
3.1.6.2 Growth performance …………………………………………………………………… 27
3.16.3.Haematological analysis …………………………………………………………………27
3.1.6.4 Estimation of haematological parameters …………………………………………….27
3.2 Experiment 2(Two): Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on weight gain, haematological, thermoregulatory parameters and Histopathology of broiler chickens at (Finisher phase)…………………………………………………………………………………………….28
3.2.1 Experimental site ……………………………………………………………………….…28
3.2.2 Source of experimental material …………………………………………………………..28
3.2.3Experimental Design and Management of birds ………………..…..…28
3.2.4Experimental Diet ………………………………………………………28
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3.2.5Parameters Measured ………………………………………………………………………30
3.2.5.1 Rectal temperature and respiratory rate ………………………………………………..30
3.2.5.2 Growth and weight of some internal organs ………………………………………….30
3.2.5.3 Haematological analysis …………………………………………………………………30
3.2.5.4 Histopathology ……………………………………………………….31
3.2.5.5 Statistical analysis ……………………………………………………31
CHAPTER FOUR …………………………………………………………..32
RESULTS ……………………………………………………………………………………….32
4.1 Chemical Compositions of Black Seed (Nigella sativa) Powder ……………………………32
4.2 Growth Performance of Broiler Starter Chickens During Hot Season ……………………34
4.3 Thermoregulatory Performance of Broiler Starter Chickens During hot Season …….……34
4.4 Haematological Parameters of Broiler Starter Chickens During Hot Season …………..…..38
4.5 Growth Performance and Weight of Some Internal Organs of Broiler finisher Chickens
During Hot Season…………………………….……………………………………………38
4.6 Thermoregulatory Performance of Broiler finisher Chickens During Hot Season…………41
4.7 Haematological and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Broilerfinisher Chickens
During Hot Season ……………………………………………………………………….44
4.8 Histopathology of Broiler finisher chickens During Hot Season ………………….……….44
CHAPTER FIVE ……………………………………………………………57
DISSCUSSION ….………………………………………………………….57
5.1 Chemical Compositions of Black seed (Nigella sativa) Powder ………………………….57
5.2 Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens at 4weeeks during hot season ………………57
5.3 Thermoregulatory Performance of Broiler Chickens During Hot Season ………….………59
5.4. Growth Performance and Weight of Some Internal Organs of Broiler Chickens at 8weeks
During Hot Season………………………………………………………………………………60
5.5 Haematological Parameters of Broiler Chickens at 8week During Hot Season …………..61
CHAPTER SIX …………………………………………………………………………………62
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………..62
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6.1 Summary…………………………………………….……………………………………….62
6.2 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….. 63
6.3 Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………….
REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………………………… 56
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The poultry industry has for some time occupied a leading role among Agricultural industries in many parts of the world. Poultry meat production has shown much higher growth than any other type of meat during the past decade. The potential for growth is obvious in view of the value of this kind of meat in modern day human diets. Chicken meat production has been on the increase in all continents with the highest increases in Asia and South America. The rate of increase in chicken meat has averaged 5.7% per year since 1990, (Daghir, 2008). The hot regions of the world (e.g Asia and Africa) have probably the greatest potential for further growth in poultry production since the level of consumption is still very low. Asia now leads the world in poultry meat production, followed by North and Central America which had the lead until 1990. In 2005 Asia and South America contributed 50% to global poultry meat production ( Daghir 2008). The rapid expansion of the industry in these regions is very evident in countries like Brazil in South America, Morocco and Nigeria in Africa, and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East. Shane (2006) presented data indicating that there will be an increase of 12.5% in consumption of poultry meat during the present decade. According to ( Daghir, 2008 ) , the highest increase will be in Asia, Africa and South America, the main warm regions of the world.
Poultry production in the tropical and subtropical regions, is characterised by heat stress which is in increase deu to the increase in global warming . Heat stress inflicts heavy economic losses on poultry production as a result of stunted growth ( Shahinet al.,2001), increased cost of production, high rate of mortality due to depressed immunity, and reproductive failure (Ayoet al., 2010). In Nigeria, the combination of high ambient temperature and high relative humidity,
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reaching climax at the onset of the rainy season, constitutes extreme heat stress, which depresses the production of broiler and layer birds. (Ayo et al., 2011).
It is also reported by Mills et al.,( 1999), that high environmental temperatures have deleterious effect on poultry, reducing rate of growth, feed intake, live weight gain, feed efficiency, digestibility of nutrients, egg production, as well as egg weight, mortality and depression of immunity (Naseemet al., 2005). Also the physiological functions of broiler chickens are also affected by heat stress as mentioned by ElHusseiny and Creger (1981) who reported that a high environmental temperature (32oC) decreased concentration of some minerals resulting in abnormal physiological process.
It has however been found recently that natural feed additives like herbs and edible plants have some properties as growth enhancers, instead of using synthetic drugs which may have adverse effects on human health, (Flucket al.,1976). This apparently lead to the increase in the demand for using natural feed additives to overcome the adverse impact of heat stress on broiler performance in northern Nigeria.
Advancesin chemistryand identificationof plant compounds whichareeffective inthetreatmentofcertain diseases have renewedthe interest inherbal medicines. The World Health Organization(WHO) estimated that about 80% oftheworld populationrelies ontraditional medicinesfortheir primary health care. The black seed (Nigella sativaL.),belongingtothefamily Ranunculaceae, is an arumalspicy herb native to the Mediterranean regionsandisnowcultivatedinotherpartsoftheworld includingMiddle East, NorthAfrica andAsia(Duraniet al.,2007).TheBlack seedisacropofgreatmedicalimportance,particularlyin Unani(Greek) and Ayurveda system of
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medicines (Duraniet al.,2007). Recently theseeds arealso used inpharmaceutical industries.Itisusedforedibleandmedicinalpurposesin Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan and Egyptand manyother countries. Manymedicinal propertieshave been attributedtoits seed and oilincludingAntineoplastic, Antibacterial,Antifungal,Anthelminthicandtreatmentof respiratory organs (Duraniet al.,al 2007).
Nigella sativa as a natural feed additive (medicinal plant) have some properties as growth enhancers to improve birds productive performance under normal or heat stress conditions, the composition and properties of Black seed have been found to be a good source of protein, crude fat, crude fiber and major minerals (Radwan,2003 as cited in Hermes et al.,2011).
A lot of trials have been made to investigate the possibility of introducing Nigella sativa as a natural feed additive to broiler diets for better performance and there is general agreement that Black seed has no adverse effect on performance of broilers (Herms et al.,2011). Also supplementing broiler diet with Nigella sativa seed, meal or oil improves growth performance, biochemical, hematological responses and mortality rate (Nofalet al., 2006). Whereas feeding different levels and forms of Black seed has been reported to show antimicrobial property (Nasir and Grashorn, 2006) and has a stimulatory effect on the immune system (Tolbaet al., 2003).
1.1 Justification
The use of Black seed (Nigella sativa) is in the increase in humans due to its natural endowmentinterms of nutritive and medicinal potentials and the fact that synthetic drugs and growth enhancers have great residual effect to consumers (Naseemet al., 2005). This makes it necessary to explore edible herbs and plants that will enhance proper production of animals
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specifically broiler chickens that suffers lots of losses in both performance and survival as a result of adverse and sudden fluctuation of weather condition especially during hot season.
1.2 Statement of Hypothesis
Null hypothesis (Ho): there is no significant effect in the supplementation of Black seed (Nigella sativa) powder on the performance, thermoregulatory parameters, blood profile and Histopathology of broiler chickens during hot season.
Alternative hypothesis (Ha): there is significant effect in the supplementation of Black seed (Nigella sativa) powder on onthe performance, thermoregulatory parameters, blood profile and Histopathology of broiler chickens during hot season.
1.3 Objectives
The objectives of this study are:
1. To determine the nutrient and chemical compositon of black seed (Nigella sativa) as a natural additive in ameliorating the effect of heat stress on broiler chickensduring thehot season in the savannah region.
2. To determine the effect of varying levels of black seed(Nigella sativa) onthe performance, thermoregulatory parameters, blood profile and Histopathology of broiler chickens at both starter and finisher phases during hot season.
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3. To determine the effect of varying levels of black seed(Nigella sativa) on haematology of broiler chickens at both starter and finisher phases
4. To evaluate the histopathologic effect of black seed on the liver, kidney and small intestine of broiler chickens.
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