Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices, Duodenal Histomorphology, and Cecal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens Fed on Diets Supplemented with Cinnamon Bark Powder at Prestarter and Starter Phases

Abstract

Ross 308 broiler chicks (n = 240) aged 1 day were assigned to five groups for eight replicates (six chicks for each) (3♂ and 3♀). Basal dietary groups were supplemented by 2000, 4000, and 6000 mg/kg cinnamon (CN) for 21 days. Basal diet alone was used as a negative control, and basal antibiotic diet (Colimox) was used as a positive control. At 10, 14, and 21 days of age, chicks that received 2000 mg CN and Colimox had a higher body weight, resulting in an increase in body weight gain. CN also resulted in the maximum improvement in the feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency over 1-21 days at the level of 2000 mg/kg. At days 10, the maximum relative breast weight was 2000 mg/kg of CN. Mean serum albumin concentrations, duodenal villus height, and goblet cell density increased (p < 0.05) by 2000 mg/kg of CN, and mean serum globulin and total protein concentrations and crypt depth increased (p < 0.05) by 6000 mg/kg of CN compared with control. Increased cecal Escherichia coli number was CN dose-dependent. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 2000 mg/kg CN can be applied as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics for broiler starter diet.

Keywords: broiler chicks; cinnamon; goblet cell; growth promoter; triiodothyronine.

Figure 1

(a) HPLC chromatogram of standard of flavonoids and phenol mixture at 280 nm of cinnamon; (b) GC-MS tracing of the bark extracts of cinnamon.

Figure 2

Effect of dietary treatments on serum levels of total protein, albumin, and globulin. Values are mean ± standard error (SE), n = 8 chicks per treatment (1 bird/replicate). NC: negative control group = commercial feed, no additives by cinnamon powder; PC: positive control group = commercial feed, treated by antibiotic Colimox powder (mixture of amoxicillin and colistin at 200 and 150 mg/kg, respectively); 2000, 4000, and 6000 mg/kg treated groups = commercial feed, treated by Cinnamon verum powder. ^a,b It indicates significant differences (p < 0.05) in serum total protein, albumin, and globulin compared with each CN level to the non-supplemented control diet.