Effects of Thymus vulgaris, Euphorbia hirta and Alium sativum as Feed Additives on the Growth Parameters and Semen Characteristics of Kabir Chicken Roosters

Emmanuel Takor Ojong; Felix Ngwese Ebwekoh; Joseline Motsaa Sob; Jean Paul Toukala; Kenneth J. N. Ndamukong; Christian Keambou Tiambo

doi:10.5455/ijlr.20200505093405

Authors

Emmanuel Takor Ojong Ph.D Student, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, CAMEROON
Felix Ngwese Ebwekoh Masters Graduate, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, CAMEROON
Joseline Motsaa Sob Ph.D student, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, CAMEROON
Jean Paul Toukala Assistant Lecturer, Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, CAMEROON
Kenneth J. N. Ndamukong Professor, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, CAMEROON
Christian Keambou Tiambo Post-Doctoral Scientist, Center for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health CTLGH, International Livestock Research Institute ILRI, Nairobi, KENYA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20200505093405%20%20%20%20

Keywords:

Feed Additives, Feed Intake, Kabir Chicken, Semen Characteristics

Abstract

This study was to evaluate the effects of Allium sativum, Thymus vulgaris and Euphorbia hirta on the growth and semen characteristics of Kabir chicken roosters. 160 roosters were randomly distributed into 8 groups which respectively received a commercial antibiotic 0.5g/L H2O, a basal diet alone or with 0.75% and 1.5%Euphorbia, 0.5% and 1.0%Thyme, and 0.5% and 1.0%garlic powders. Feed intake (FI), weights gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were recorded weekly. Carcass and organ weights (OW) were evaluated at the 12th week of the study. Semen evaluation was done from the 20th week of the study. The WG was positively affected by the treatments (P˂0.05) during the first seven weeks of the study. The FI, FCR, Carcass, OW and Semen parameters, were not significantly affected by the treatments. It is concluded that, the incorporation of some feed additives enhanced growth of roosters with no negative effects on the semen profile.