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BONE MORPHOLOGY AND TIBIA-BREAKING STRENGTH OF BROILER CHICKENS MANAGED ON DIFFERENT HOUSING SYSTEMS FED DIETS CONTAINING Piper guineense LEAF AND SEED
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1  Department of Animal Production abd Health, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, 110111, Nigeria
Academic Editor: Elisabete Matos

Abstract:

A 6-week study was conducted to determine the bone morphology and tibia-breaking strength of broiler chicken managed on different housing systems fed diets containing Piper guineense leaf and seed. For 3 weeks, 288-day-old broiler chicks were brooded; they were then assigned into treatment in 2-by-4 experimental layouts, which comprised two housing systems (deep litter and battery cage) with dietary inclusion levels of Piper guineense leaves and seeds (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5%) in a 2:1 ratio of leaves and seed. Hence, the birds were divided into 8 treatment groups of 4 replicates, with 9 birds per replicates and a total of 36 birds per treatment. Birds on treatment 1 were reared on battery cage housing system-fed diets without Piper guineese, while those on treatments 2, 3 and 4 were fed ration containing Piper guineese at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% inclusion levels, respectively. Birds assigned to treatments 5, 6, 7 and 8 were managed in a deep litter housing system, with dietary inclusion levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%, respectively. Two birds per replicate group were then selected and killed. The left tibia bone was collected for tibia bone morphology and breaking strength. Data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance. The significant treatment means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. The results of this study revealed that most of the tibia bone morphological parameters were not influenced by the housing type except for diaphysis diameter; we found wider diaphysis diameters obtained in birds of the deep litter housing type. Wet tibia, dry tibia weight, diaphysis and tibia index were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary inclusion levels. The interaction between the housing type and dietary inclusion levels significantly influenced all parameters of the tibia bone characteristics except tibia robusticity. It can be concluded that for a better bone quality, broiler birds should be managed in the deep litter housing type and fed diets with no more than 1% Piper guineese.

Keywords: Piper guineese, broiler chicken, housing systems, deep litter, battery cage
Comments on this paper
Mohammed Bereziga
Thank you for this insightful presentation. It is fascinating to see how the housing system interacts with dietary inclusion levels to affect bone morphology. I am particularly interested in the finding that the Deep Litter system produced wider diaphysis diameters. In my current agricultural projects in Algeria, we focus on organic growth stimulants; do you believe that the addition of natural antioxidants, such as Cinnamon or Biochar-derived minerals, could synergize with Piper guineense to further enhance bone breaking strength, especially in high-density housing systems?
Abiodun Idowu
Thank you for your insightful question. The wider diaphysis in deep litter systems is likely due to increased bird activity, which supports bone development. Natural additives like cinnamon contains polyphenolic properties which could improve and enhance nutrient abortion as we also observed that the Ca and P contained in Piper guineense was not adequately absorbed at higher inclusion level.

Adding cinnamon could enhance bone strength by improving antioxidant status and mineral utilization. When combined with Piper guineense, they may have synergistic effects, especially in high-density systems, though proper dosage and further research are essential.



 
 
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