EFFECT OF DIETARY CHARCOAL ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND GUT MICROBIAL POPULATION OF BROILER CHICKENS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.8544Keywords:
Charcoal supplementation, Nutrient digestibility, Gut microbiota, Broiler chickens, Poultry nutritionAbstract
This study evaluated the effect of dietary charcoal supplementation on nutrient digestibility and gut microbial population of broiler chickens. A total of 250 one-day-old commercial broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, each containing different levels of charcoal supplementation (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5% per 100kg diet). The birds were allotted and raised in a deep litter pen in a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replicates of 15 birds. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. All vaccinations and medications, except antibiotics, were administered. A digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the
experiment. Additionally, gut microbial analysis was performed on intestinal fluid samples to determine the presence of Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, total aerobic plate count (TAPC), and coliform counts. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Model (GLM)
procedure of SAS. Results revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) digestibility coefficients, with birds fed 1.0% charcoal diets exhibiting higher digestibility compared to the control and 2.5% charcoal groups. Gut microbial analysis showed that charcoal supplementation reduced coliform and aerobic bacterial counts in treated groups compared to the control. Notably, no Salmonella spp. was detected, while E. coli counts were higher in the treatment groups. The highest bacterial population in the ileum was recorded in birds on 1.5% dietary charcoal inclusion, after which it declined. Findings suggests that dietary charcoal supplementation at 1.0% per 100kg of feed enhances nutrient digestibility and promotes favourable gut microbial population in broiler chickens. Therefore, charcoal inclusion in poultry diets could be recommended as a natural feed additive to improve nutrient utilization and intestinal health.
