Application of pumpkin oil as a new feed additive in Cobb Avian 48 broilers: its effect on performance, carcasses, digestive enzyme, blood metabolites and cecal bacterial load

Abstract

SUMMARY: This study evaluated the effects of pumpkin oil (PKO), a novel feed additive, on growth, carcass, digestive enzymes, blood metabolites, and cecal bacterial load in broiler chickens. 250 one-wk-old chicks were randomly assigned into 5 equal groups. Group 1(control) was fed the basal diet (BD). Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were fed the basal diet (BD) with 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 ml of PKO/kg diet, respectively. According to GC-MS analysis, pumpkin oil contains Anthracene, Pyrene, Anethole, Estragole, Oleic Acid, Eugenol, 1-Dodecanamine, N, N-dimethyl- and Hexadecanoic acid, etc. The broilers fed the PKO-supplemented diet had better growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed the control diet, with no effect on feed intake (P > 0.05). The highest body weight gain (P 0.05). When compared to control birds, broilers' plasma level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was higher and those of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were lower at every tested level of PKO (P < 0.05). Similarly, all PKO levels increased Lactobacilli and decreased the caecal counts of Salmonella, coliforms, and E. coli (P < 0.05). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly (P < 0.05) increased while the malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased in broilers fed PKO-supplemented diet vs control birds. PKO enhanced immune response parameters including total protein, globulin, IgA, IgG, and C3 (P < 0.05) dose dependently. It was concluded that adding PKO in the broilers’ diet positively affected growth performance, induced hypolipidemic effect, enhanced immunity, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Keywords

• antioxidant
• cecal bacterial load
• chicken
• digestive enzyme
• pumpkin oil