Nigerian J. Anim. Sci.

2020 Vol 22 (2):57-63 (ISSN:1119-4308)

© 2020 Animal Science Association of Nigeria (https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjas)
available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Influence of turmeric (curcuma longa) as feed additive on the

performance, serum enzymes and lipid profile of broiler chickens
Ekine, O.A., Udoudo, E.F. and George, O.S.
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Port
Harcourt, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: otokini.george@uniport.edu.ng Phone Number: 08033479261
Target Audience: Researchers, Animal Nutritionist and Poultry Farmers
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with turmeric powder as a natural
growth promoter on performance, and serum biochemical profile in broiler chickens. A total of 200 day old
broiler chicks (Ross) were allocated to five dietary treatments, with four replicates, having 10 birds per
replicate. The dietary treatments consisted of the control diet (T 1) with 0% turmeric powder, and then 0.25%,
0.50%, 0.75%and 1.0%??/100kg of feed with turmeric powder added to T 2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively. Results
showed that feed intake was not significantly influenced across the treatments (P>0.05). The average weekly
weight gain and final weight of the broilers differed significantly (P<0.05) amongst the treatment groups.
Turmeric supplementation showed a significant decrease in FCR and in turn improved feed efficiency. The
effects of turmeric on Aspartate amino-transferase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), and total cholesterol
(TC) increased significantly in the group that received the highest concentration of turmeric. However, this
increase is minimal to cause any observable adverse effect. Meanwhile, there was significant increase in low
density lipoprotein (LDL) among the group that received 1% (100g) Turmeric/100kg feed. There were no
significant increase in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride. The result of this study therefore,
demonstrates that dietary supplementation of turmeric powder should not exceed 1000g/kg feed in broiler
production. It was also shown that turmeric addition had a positive influence on feed conversion ratio thereby
improving the weight gain in broiler birds.

Keywords: Turmeric; Performance; Serum Enzymes; Lipid Profile

Description of Problem overall costs of poultry farming, being

Broiler production can produce very high- responsible for about 80% of the total expenses
(4)
quality proteins for human nutrition as well as
a source of income for the community in many The awareness in feed additives flourished
countries, hence poultry production has very over the last decade. Feed additives are a
important role in economic development of cluster of nutrients and non-nutrient
any country(1). The demand for broiler meat is composites which help in improving the
increasing rapidly, driven by increased income efficiency of feed utilization and consequently
and population growth and urbanization(2). dropping the high cost of feed (5). These
Broiler production has grown dramatically in additives have established a great
the past two decades; these improvements are consideration as feed supplements for
largely due to numerous researches and numerous purposes in poultry production
breeding programs which further enhanced throughout the recent years (6). In the past,
feed utilization, growth rate and high antibiotics were regularly used as feed
productivity(11). Feed is the key constituent of additives (7). Though, currently use of

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antibiotics is not only restricted but also their beneficial in terms of weight gain, feed
practice in livestock and poultry industry have utilization and hypolipidemic (17), (3),
been prohibited in many countries due to Therefore, the purpose of this research is
modification of natural gut microbiota and to investigate the effect of adding different
drug resistance in microorganisms and levels of turmeric powder on growth
humans. Natural growth promoters such as performance, feed conversion efficiency,
prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, enzymes, enzymes and lipids profile of broiler chickens.
plant extracts, etc., can be used to feed the
broilers without any adverse effect on the Materials and Method
performance of birds (8). Beneficial properties The experiment was conducted at the
of bioactive plant constituents in animal poultry unit, Faculty of Agriculture
nutrition may comprise the stimulation of demonstration farm, University of Port
appetite and feed intake, the enhancement of Harcourt, Choba, Obio/Akpor Local
endogenous digestive enzyme secretion, Government Area of Rivers State. The
stimulation of immune response and anti- experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks. A total
bacterial, antiviral and antioxidant action (9). of two hundred (200) Ross day-old broiler
Turmeric as natural growth promoter can be chickens were purchased from a reputable
used as an alternative of common artificial hatchery, and were properly housed in a deep
growth promoters like antibiotics. litter house. Daily routine management
Turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa) practices as it applies to broiler rearing were
commonly known as turmeric, is a widely used carried out. The birds were assigned to five
spice, food preservative and coloring agent that treatments, with four replicates having ten (10)
has biological activities and medicinal birds each, in a Completely Randomized
applications and grown in Southern and South- experimental design by the 14th day of
Eastern tropical Asia (12). The active brooding. The dietary treatments for the starter
ingredients found in Turmeric (Curcuma phase and finisher phase of the trial, are as
longa) are curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin, shown on Tables 1 and 2 respectively.
bisdemethoxycurcumin and tetrahydro- Turmeric was bought from the market in
(13)
curcuminoids . Curcumin is the crucial the raw form, and was washed, cut into smaller
indispensable bioactive component liable for pieces and sundried to reduce the moisture
the biological action of Curcuma longa (14). content. They were ground into meal and
Traditionally, it has been used to treat various passed it through 1mm sieve to obtain a fine
diseases/disorders e.g., liver obstruction, powder. This was added at different levels to
jaundice, ulcers, inflammation, dysentery, 100 kg of feed to the different dietary
diabetes, stomach disorders, fresh wounds, treatments, as follows: Treatment 1: 0g
insect stings and viral infections including turmeric (control); Treatment 2: 250g turmeric;
chickenpox and smallpox (16). Curcumin has Treatment 3: 500g Turmeric; Treatment 4:
also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant 750g turmeric; and Treatment5: 1000g
properties (15). It is also used in gastrointestinal turmeric.
and respiratory disorders. A number of Feed offered on daily basis was weighed,
experiments have been conducted to assess and left overs weighed out. Weekly weight of
curcumin effect on the performance of broiler the birds was determined and recorded, to
chickens and laying hens. Their findings ascertain the weekly weight gain. Feed
conclude that turmeric supplementation was conversion ratio was calculated at the end of
the experiment.

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At the end of the experimental period, Lipoprotein (HDL), Low density Lipoprotein
blood samples were collected from 20 birds (LDL), and triglyceride, by a biochemical
picking I bird from each of the replicates, via analyzer.
the brachial vein with 2ml syringes. Serum The data generated were subjected to one
samples were isolated by centrifugation. way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the
Individual serum samples were analyzed for SPSS package programme (SPSS version 15.0
aspertate amino transferase (AST), alanine software for windows. SPSS INC. Chicago,
transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase IL).
(ALP), total cholesterol (TC), high-density

Table 1: Experimental Starter’s Diet

INGREDIENT CONTROL (1) TRT 2 TRT 3 TRT 4 TRT 5
Maize 41 40.5 40 39.5 39
PKC 7.46 7.46 7.46 7.46 7.46
Soya bean meal 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
Groundnut cake 14 14 14 14 14
Fish meal 7.74 7.74 7.74 7.74 7.74
Wheat bran 7 7 7 7 7
Soya bean oil 3 3 3 3 3
Bone meal 3 3 3 3 3
D-L Methionine 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Lysine 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Vit/Min. Premix 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
Turmeric 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0
Salt 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
Total 100 100 100 100 100
Calculated feed
composition
Crude Protein % 23.06 23.06 23.06 23.07 23.04
ME Kcal/kg 2805.29 2803.88 2808.47 2801.06 2803.27
Crude Fibre % 4.78 4.79 4.81 4.83 4.83
Oil % 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
Analyzed feed composition
Crude Protein % 23.02 23.02 23.05 23.05 23.03
ME Kcal/kg 2821.00 2816.12 2306.26 2823.14 2806.23
Crude Fibre % 4.23 4.56 4.56 4.69 4.78
Oil % 6.06 6.06 6.06 6.06 6.06

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Table 2: Experimental Finisher’s Diet

INGREDIENT CONTROL TRT 2 TRT 3 TRT 4 TRT 5
Maize 51.50 51.25 51.00 50.75 50.50
PKC 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
Soya bean meal 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
Groundnut cake 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
Fish meal 7.70 7.70 7.70 7.70 7.70
Wheat bran 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
Soyabeanoil 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
Bone meal 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
D-L Methionine 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Lysine 0.50 0.5.0 0.50 0.50 0.50
Vit/Min. Premix 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.5 2.50
Turmeric 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00
Salt 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Total 100 100 100 100 100
Crude Protein % 20.06 20.07 20.07 20.07 20.07
ME Kcal/kg 3007.76 3006.35 3004.94 3003.53 3002.12
Crude Fibre % 4.1 4.12 4.14 4.15 4.17
Oil % 7.57 7.57 7.57 7.58 7.58
Analyzed feed composition
Crude Protein % 19.67 19.53 19.53 19.69 19.69
ME Kcal/kg 3002.98 3003.67 3003.68 3003.78 3002.59
Crude Fibre % 4.06 4.02 4.1 4.7 4.12
Oil % 7.09 7.23 7.23 7.23 7.23

Results and Discussion turmeric had no effect on weight of broilers. It

From the findings of this trial, increasing was in agreement with the findings of this
turmeric inclusion rate in broilers diet did not Researcher (17) who reported that inclusion of
indicate any significant difference in feed turmeric at 500g of feed increased body weight
intake between the treatment groups. Similar of broiler birds, and concluded that, the
observations were made in a study when significant increase in body weight might be
chickens were used(18, 17); The authors reported due to optimum antioxidant activities of
that, at 5g/kg level turmeric there was no turmeric at the level of 5g/kg that stimulates
significant influence in feed consumption of protein synthesis by enzymatic system.
chicken, where as feed intake of bird The feed conversion ratio of the
supplemented with turmeric was similar to that experimental birds in T1, T2, T4, and T5,
of control group. The effect of turmeric on especially T5with the lowest mean value
average weekly weight gain and final weight reveals that the impact of growth promoter
of broilers markedly increased in T4, and T5, substance such as phytogenic products on
though not significantly different from the performance could be related to a more
Control (T1). This result contradicts with the efficient use of nutrients, which in turn
report a Researcher(18), who reported that at an resulted in an improved feed utilization
inclusion rate of 250, 500, and 750g of diet efficiency. Turmeric also has the ability to

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control and limit the growth and colonization on liver enzyme that directly or indirectly
of numerous pathogenic and non-pathogenic reflect a healthier liver status in broiler
species of bacteria in birds. It was also chickens. Similarly, it was reported that the
reported that chicken receiving diet inclusion of turmeric powder in broilers diet at
supplement with 5g/kg turmeric powder had the level of 5g/kg, significantly decreased
better feed efficiency than 2.5g/kg Serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)(19).
supplementation level, which agrees with the There is significant increase in Total
present results on feed conversion Cholesterol from the result obtained, and this
ratio(17).Again, another researcher(3) showed is similar to the report of a researcher (22); that
that inclusion of turmeric at the level of turmeric supplementation into basal diet of
0.6g/kg diet significantly increased weight broilers chicken increased total cholesterol
gain and improve feed conversion when significantly. It was reported that the normal
compared with other treatments. range of total cholesterol in the blood of
Serological surveys are useful source of chicken is 55-195mg/dl(20). Therefore, the
information about epidemiological, nutritional present report, which showed increased total
parameters for infectious diseases, nutritional, cholesterol did not have any adverse effect on
reproductive, and haemostatics of the body of the health of broiler birds.
broiler birds. One of the ways to diagnose No significant effect on Triglyceride
pathological conditions in birds is the serum concentration and High Density Lipoprotein
enzymatic activity. Aspertate aminotransferase from the present study, which might be due to
(AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) are the reduction of synthetic enzymes activities.
some of those enzymes, and they increased Similarly, it was reported that curcuma longa
significantly in Treatment 5, but this increase had lowering effect on triglyceride level in
has no negative effect on the liver, serum or broilers serum which shows that turmeric has
muscle of broiler birds, because it has been hypolipidemic action in broilers birds(3), but
reported that AST and ALT can only cause contrasted with the findings of (19) who
hepatic disorder when it is greater than reported that turmeric supplement into basal
275IU/L, and when it is up to 800IU/L its diet of broilers significantly increased High
indicative of severe hepatic damage (21). Density Lipoprotein. The results obtained
From the results obtained, turmeric indicates significant effect of turmeric on LDL,
supplementation in broilers diet significantly as the treatments that received high turmeric
reduced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the level (T5 – 1000g) was high in LDL than other
treatment that received highest level of treatments, this was in contrast to the findings
turmeric (T5-1000g/kg of feed). This implies of these researchers,(22) and (19), who reported
that turmeric might have some positive effect that turmeric decreased LDL.

Table 3: Effects of graded levels of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the performance of broiler
birds
Parameters T1 (0%) T2 (0.25%) T3 (0.5%) T4 (0.75%) T5 (1%)
Initial. wt. (gm) 375.00a± 2.88 365.00a± 8.66 340.00b ± 5.77 370.00a ± 0.00 380.00a ± 5.77
Final. wt. (gm) 2950.00ab ±28.86 2700.00c± 57.73 2150.00d± 144.34 2750.00bc ± 28.86 3050.00a ± 28.86
Weekly Wt. gain. (gm) 429.18ab ± 4.34 389.16c ± 8.17 301.66d ± 25.01 396.66bc ± 4.81 445.00a ± 5.77
Weekly Feed Intake (gm) 1155.00 ± 0.00 1155.00 ± 0.00 1155.00 ± 0.00 1155.00 ± 0.00 1155.00 ± 0.00
FCR. 2.69b ± 0.28 2.97b ± 0.63 3.91a ± 0.32 2.91b ± 0.34 2.59b ±0.37
Mortality. 0.75 ± 0.47 0.25 ± 0.25 1.00 ± 0.57 0.00 ± 0.00 0.25 ± 0.25
a,b,c,d
: Mean ± SEM in the same row with different superscripts differ significantly (P<0.05)

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Table 4: The effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on serum enzymes and lipid profile of
broiler chickens
Parameters T1(0%) T2 (0.25%) T3 (0.5%) T4 (0.75%) T5 (1.0%)
AST(iu/l) 85.00b±13.68 97.25ab±4.92 105.75ab±4.96 109.50a±2.02 117.50a±4.50
ALT(iu/l) 5.85b±0.72 6.43b±0.57 7.43b±1.12 10.15ab±1.51 12.98a±3.29
ALP(iu/l) 264 .75a±27.61 259.50a±29.05 342.25a±35.05 275.00a±13.84 176.50b±19.68
TC(mmol/L) 4.70 ±0.23
a 4.53 ±0.24
ab 3.60 ±0.41
b 5.30 ±0.32
a 4.75a±0.38
TG(mmol/l) 1.23±0.04 1.17±0.22 1.07±0.14 1.27±0.07 0.94±0.06
HDL(mmol/l) 1.35±0.07 1.61±0.14 1.39±0.09 1.44±0.15 1.38±0.21
LDL(mmol/l) 2.46bc±0.21 2.12bc±0.37 1.66c±0.27 2.87ab±0.28 3.52a±0.26
a,b,c,
Mean ± SEM in the same row with different superscripts differ significantly (P<0.05)
AST=Aspartate aminotransferase, ALP= Alkaline phosphatase, TG =Triglyceride, TC= Total cholesterol
ALT=Alanin transaminase, LDL = Low density lipoprotein, HDL =High density lipoprotein,

Conclusion and Applications parameters in broiler fed on diets

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