Abstract: Background and Objective: Medicinal plants are rich in bioactive molecules with diverse pharmacological activities that can be used in the animal sector to improve productive performances. Due to the cancelling of antibiotics used in the poultry field and the regression of bird production performances, the study assessed safou and mango leaves powder’s effect on Brahma hens’ immune systems and growth performances. Materials and Methods: A total of 84 Brahma hens aged 45 days old with an average weight of 400±12 g were divided into seven groups of 12 hens each. The hens of the control group received a diet without additives and those of groups 1, 2 and 3 received, feed with 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% of Dacryodes edulis leaves powder, respectively while the hens of groups 4, 5 and 6 in addition to the control ration received, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% powder from Mangifera indica leaves, respectively. After 60 days of treatment, all studied characteristics were evaluated. Results: The live body weight except that of birds fed with 0.5% of D. edulis and the carcass yield 2 increased in the hens exposed to D. edulis and M. indica powder leaves with reference to the control. However, this increase was significant only in hens exposed to 0.75% of M. indica leaf powder. The relative weight of the Fabricius bursa recorded in 0.25% of M. indica leaves treated hens was significantly higher compared to that of the control hens. Conversely, the relative weight of the spleen, the level of total protein and serum globulin recorded in powder leaves treated hens decreased. Conclusion: The powder of safou and mango leaves due to their bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties can be used as an alternative for improving the immune system in birds. PubDate: 31 October, 2023
Abstract: Background and Objective: Because of a severe yellow corn shortage in Côte d’Ivoire in 2021, the study assessed Bixa orellana (B.o) grains and Curcuma longa (C.l) rhizomes powder effect on Coturnix coturnix japonica hens egg yolks colouration. Materials and Methods: First, two control diets were made of yellow corn (YC) and white corn (WC). Additionally, 10 diets were made by enriching the white corn-based diet with B.o grains and C.l rhizomes powders, at different incorporation rates. Second, three hundred sixty Coturnix coturnix japonica laying hens, 51 weeks old weighing 227.68±16.68 g, were randomly allotted to the 12 diets, with 10 birds in each, with 3 replications. Following, on the last day of week 8 (59 weeks old), the eggs were weighed. Then, three eggs of similar weights per diet were collected for analysis. To end, the eggs and their constituents were weighed and the yolks’ colours were assessed through L*, a* and b* measurements. Results: First, the best egg weights were obtained with WC+1% B.o, WC+0.15% B.o+0.45% C.l and WC+0.6% B.o diets for 11.31±0.21, 11.10±0.12 and 11.06±0.12 g, respectively. Second, following the YC diet that performed 98.34±061 (p PubDate: 01 January, 2023
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