ABSTRACT

A sixty three (63) day experiment was carried out to bio-appraise different non-antibiotic growth enhancers using one hundred and twenty day-old broiler chicks (DOC). The DOC were randomly assigned to four treatments of 30 birds per group, each with three replications (10 birds per replicate), in a completely randomized design (CRD). T1 served as the control (CT), whereas T2, T3 and T4 had commercially procured ElRox (EX), PolaMix (PX) and MaxiGrowth (MX) growth promoters incorporated at 400g/100kg, 500g/100kg and 600g/100kg respectively. Data were collected weekly on body weight, body weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and feed cost per Kg gain. Carcass yields of the experimental groups were also evaluated at the end of the experiment. Biochemical parameters of the bird were also determined at the end of the experiment. These were protein profile, liver enzymes, bilirubin, lipid profile and serum arsenics. Results of this study showed that the non-antibiotic growth enhancers used in the study had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the performance characteristics of the experimental birds. The birds that received ElRox (T2) had better results in the overall performance indices of the experimental animals, including feed cost/Kg gain. Birds on the ElRox inpr-feed diet had significantly (P<0.05) the best edible meat parts. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in the liver enzymes and bilirubin levels. Effect of treatments on the serum arsenic levels was significant (P<0.05). It was higher in the birds that consumed in-feed MaxiGrowth. Treatments effects on the protein profile of the birds were significant (P<0.05). Birds on control diet had the highest protein level while those on the PolaMix had the least. The urea and creatinine levels were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by treatments. In the same vein, lipid profile (CHOL, HDL, VLDL, and TRIG) were also not significantly (P>0.05) affected except LDL. The highest level of LDL was recorded in birds on the control diet, with PolaMix as the least. The results of the overall experiment indicated that, of all the non-antibiotic growth enhancers examined, only ElRox promoted a significant weight increase with better cost benefit return. It is concluded that feeding ElRox (400g/100kg) to broilers resulted in better performance of the birds.