Abstract:
The experiment was conducted to investigate the
effect of different levels of diets containing Gum
Arabic powder to broilers feed on the performance,
carcass characteristics and serum chemistry. Five
experimental diet's were designed as A, B, C, D and E.
Diet A served as a control, B was supplemented with
antibiotic growth promoter (Neomycin), diets C,D and
E were supplemented with 2, 4 and 6% of Gum
Arabic, respectively.
One hindered and forty broiler chicks, 7 days old
were randomly distributed into five treatments, each
treatment with four replicates and each replicate with
seven chicks. Average weight gain, feed consumption,
feed conversion ratio, mortality rate, dressing
percentage, weight of different commercial cut's
(breast, drumstick, thigh), giblets (liver, gizzard)
abdominal fat, meat chemical composition and serum
parameters were used as a criteria of response.
Economics for each group was calculated at the end
of the experimental period.
Results obtained showed no significant difference
between treatment groups in performance
parameters, dressing percentage, yield of commercial
cuts, non carcass components, physical and chemical
composition of meat values.
The supplementation of control diet with Gum Arabic
significantly (P> 0.05) decreased total cholesterol,
uric acid and calcium crystals and at the same time
increased the level of total protein in the blood serum
compared to control group and those fed on diet
supplemented with antibiotic.
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Supplementation of Gum Arabic apparently
improved the general performance of broiler chicks,
significantly decreased total cholesterol and uric acid
of blood serum.
Economically Gum Arabic can be safely included in
broiler diets up to 6% without any adverse effect.
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