African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6883

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of Anacardium occidentale, Ricinus communis and Spirulina sp. on the diets of broiler chickens

Patricia Rossi
  • Patricia Rossi
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Lilian Kelly Pereira
  • Lilian Kelly Pereira
  • Posgraduation Program in Animal Science, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Sabrina Endo Takahashi
  • Sabrina Endo Takahashi
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Paulo Segatto Cella
  • Paulo Segatto Cella
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Patricia Franchi Freitas
  • Patricia Franchi Freitas
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Jackeline Dall Agnol de Lima
  • Jackeline Dall Agnol de Lima
  • Depertment of Biology, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Pedro Valerio Dutra de Moraes4
  • Pedro Valerio Dutra de Moraes4
  • Department of Agronomy, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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Guilherme Cesar Trindade de Freitas
  • Guilherme Cesar Trindade de Freitas
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Technologic University of Parana, UTFPR, Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 26 July 2018
  •  Accepted: 19 September 2018
  •  Published: 18 October 2018

Abstract

The use of antibiotics as a growth promoter was banned because of residues that are left in animal products. Alternatives to antibiotics that promote animal growth and health without leaving residues in food are being sought. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of a commercial mixture of functional oils and algae (FOA) on growth and gut morphology in broiler chickens. A total of 224 one day-old Cobb male broilers were randomly divided into 2 dietary treatment groups, with 8 replicate pens per treatment group (14 birds each). The dietary treatments consisted of a control basal diet without FOA, or control diet plus 1.50 kg/ton of FOA. The FOA was a commercial mixture of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.), Cashew nut oil (Anacardium occidentale L.) and spirulin (Spirulina sp.). Body weight and viability were not significantly influenced by treatments (P>0.05). Feed intake and feed conversion rate improved significantly upon the use of FOA (P<0.05). Villus height, villus width, crypt depth, or crypt diameter were not influenced by treatments. This therefore suggest that the use of FOA improves performance parameters in broiler chickens and is economically viable.

Key words: Anacardium occidentale, body weight gain, feed conversion rate, villus height, Ricinus communis.