Research Article

Influence of Camellia sinensis on Broilers Performance

Mohsin Ali Alias Mehran Khan Solangi1, Gulfam Ali Mughal1, Asad Ali Khaskheli1*, Turab Ali Korejo3, Nazeer Ahmed Rajput2, Qurban Ali Memon3 and Maqsood Ahmed Kumbhar4

1Department of Animal Nutrition, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan; 2Department of Poultry Husbandry, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan; 3Department of Livestock Management, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan; 4Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.

Received | October 22, 2019; Accepted | August 30, 2020; Published | October 17, 2020

*Correspondence | Asad Ali Khaskheli, Department of Animal Nutrition, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan; Email: khaskhelias@gmail.com

Citation | Solangi, M.A.A.M.K., G.A. Mughal, A.A. Khaskheli, T.A. Korejo, N.A. Rajput, Q.A. Memon and M.A. Kumbhar. 2020. Influence of Camellia sinensis on broilers performance. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 33(4): 834-840.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjar/2020/33.4.834.840

Keywords | Broilers, Camellia sinensis, Carcass, Performance, Supplementation

Introduction

Camellia sinensis is one of the delicious refreshment products. This product was discovered in 2737 BC by a chines scientist Shen Nung. It is actually perennial plant though have white colored flowers, green colored fruits with 2 to 3 seeds. The color and flavor of Camellia sinensis is concerned to the method used for the processing of leaves (Perumalla and Hettiarachchy, 2011). Camellia sinensis is also notorious by its common name i.e. green tea. It is unfermented and un-oxidized product of leaves of Camellia sinensis. It contains polyphenolic compounds called as flavonoids. Catechins are the main flavonoids found in Camellia sinensis (Maron et al., 2003). These compounds have variety of health benefits including antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anticancer, antibacterial, antitoxin, antiviral, antifungal and anti-osteoporotic etc (Sommer et al., 2010). In addition to catechins Camellia sinensis also contains some other active biological compounds such as caffeine, methylxanthines, theobromine and theophylline. These all active compounds in Camellia sinensis are highly effective against lipid peroxides induced disease like which infect the blood vessels, kidneys and liver (Friedman, 2007).

Camellia sinensis has also been reported as supportive supplement for avian species. In a study supplementation epigallocatechin gallate found to beneficial in heat stressed Japanese quails (Tuzcu et al., 2008). Positive influence of Camellia sinensis was also observed against poultry infections including coccidiosis and influenza (Jang et al., 2007). The leaves as well as by-products of Camellia sinensis can be provided to the broilers as a feed supplement in order to reduce mortality and improve performance (Deryabin et al., 2008; Uuganbayar et al., 2005). Yang et al. (2003) demonstrated that feeding of different levels of Camellia sinensis to animals declines the level of fatty acids and cholesterol in muscles and plasma and also improve the meat quality. Camellia sinensis in term of leaves, flowers, byproducts, extracts and polyphenols has been used in different poultry species to improve the birds’ performance (Kajiya et al., 2004). We hypothesize that Camellia sinensis at higher supplementation dose in broilers could be supportive. Therefore, this study was planned whereby the main objective was to assess effects of Camellia sinensis on broilers performance.

 

Materials and Methods

Experimental design and procedures

Total 192 broiler chicks having age of 1 day were purchased and shifted to experimental poultry farm at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. Initial weight of chicks were recorded on arrival and then allocated into 4 groups including A, B, C and D, containing 48 chicks in each. Groups were subdivided with 3 replicates containing 16 chicks in each. The same housing and bedding facility was provided to each group. Chicks in group A were given 5g/L Camellia sinensis, in group B 10g/L and group C 15g/L in their normal diet, however group D was kept as control and Camellia sinensis free diet was provided to birds (Table 1).

Experimental trial was carried out till 36 days and data regarding different study parameters like live body weight, water consumption, feed intake, carcass weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), relative organs weight (% edible and non edible) and mortality percentage was recorded.

Water consumption and feed intake was computed with below given formula. Supply and refusal of feed and water to the birds/day were recorded and values were put in the following formula for calculating the feed/water consumption:

For measuring the total initial live body weight, 4 birds/replicate were selected randomly on day 1st and weighed using electric weight balance. Further weight was recorded on day 36th i.e. end of experiment and values were put in the below given formula for computing the weight gain.

Weight gain = Initial weight of bird–final weight of bird

Wight of carcass was computed following dressing the carcass. The dressing percentage was computed using below given equation.

For calculating FCR, aggregate weights all chick and feed intake were recorded on day 36th. Values were fixed in the following formula.

Relative organs weight was recorded using four slaughtered birds from each group. Edible and nonedible organs including gizzard, heart, liver, proventiculus spleen, feathers, feet, head, and intestines were weighed. The relative organ weight was computed using below given equation.

Mortality percentage was calculated by recording total number of live and died birds during experimental period. Values were put in the following formula for computing the final mortality rate.

 

Table 1: Diet composition of proposed rations.

Ingredients	Starter ration							Finisher ration
	Groups							Groups
	A		B	C			D	A			B	C			D
Guar meal	2		2	2			2	2			2	2			2
Soybean meal	5		5	5			5	5			5	5			5
Sunflower Meal	9		9	9			9	9			9	9			9
Rice Polish	17.5		17	16.5			18	19.5			19	18.5			20
Canola Meal	10		10	10			10	10			10	10			10
Fish Meal	6		6	6			6	4			4	4			4
Corn meal	20		20	20			20	20			20	20			20
Rice meal	18		18	18			18	18			18	18			18
Cotton gluten 30%	5		5	5			5	5			5	5			5
Cotton gluten 60%	3		3	3			3	3			3	3			3
DLM	0.5		0.5	0.5			0.5	0.5			0.5	0.5			0.5
L-lysine	1.5		1.5	1.5			1.5	1			1	1			1
Dicalcium phosphate	0.5		0.5	0.5			0.5	0.5			0.5	0.5			0.5
Lime Stone	1.5		1.5	1.5			1.5	2			2	2			2
Camellia sinensis	5		10	15			0	5			10	15			0
Total	100		100	100			100	100			100	100			100
	Calculated nutrients composition
M.E (kcal/kg)	2412	2405			2401	2407			2719	2794			2787	2709
C.P (%)	22.5	22.2			22.6	22.4			19.2	19.4			19.3	19.6
E.E (%)	1.8	1.7			1.9	1.8			2.6	2.8			2.9	2.7
C.F (%)	2.8	3.1			3.2	2.9			2.7	2.9			3.1	2.8

 

Data analysis

Data was analyzed using statistical software i.e. JMP, SAS 9.0, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC. Statistical test namely One Way Analysis of Variance was applied. Difference was considered significant at P < 0.05.

 

Results and Discussion

Feed intake

Result regarding the feed intake of birds influenced at different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation are shown in Figure 1. Significant (P<0.05) difference was found for feed intake of chicks in group A, B, C and D. Higher values for feed intake (4480g/b) was observed in control group, while feed intake (4006g/b) was found lower in group C, where chicks’ diet was supplemented with 15g/L Camellia sinensis.

Water intake

The water intake of birds as influenced by different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation is shown in Figure 2. Figure depicts prominent (P<0.05) variation amongst groups A, B, C and D for water intake of chicks. Maximum water intake (8960 ml/b) was noted in group D (control) and minimum water intake (8012ml/b) was seen in group C (15g/L Camellia sinensis).

 

 

Live body weight

Live body weight of chicks as influenced by different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation is shown in Figure 3. There was considerable (P<0.05) difference within A, B and C groups. However, between groups A and D non-considerable (P>0.05) difference was observed. Maximum live body weight (2356.8g/b) was noted in group D (control) and minimum live body weight (2081.2g/b) was recorded in group C (15g/L Camellia sinensis).

 

 

 

	Initial	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5
SE±	1.5645	6.4357	7.3152	2.2010	38.763	31.981
LSD at 0.05	3.1730	13.052	15.117	5.3070	78.615	66.712
P-value	0.9113	0.1488	0.0074	0.0030	0.0000	0.0001

 

Weight gain

The weight gain of birds as influenced by different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation is given in Figure 4. Prominent (P<0.05) variation was observed for weight gain of chicks in all groups for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th week. Maximum weight gain (177.6, 498.4, 980.5, 1684.1 and 2322.8g/b) was noted in group D (control) and minimum weight gain (163.8, 476.6, 859.7, 1477.3 and 2046.5g/b) was noticed in group C (15g/L Camellia sinensis) for week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

Carcass weight

The carcass weight of birds as influenced by different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation is shown in Figure 5. There was prominent (P<0.05) variation in carcass weight of chicks for group D with A, B and C, while non-significant (P>0.05) difference between groups A and B, correspondingly. Higher carcass weight (1381.8g/b) was noted in group D (control) and lower carcass weight (1199.1g/b) was observed in group C (15g/L Camellia sinensis).

 

 

 

Feed conversion ratio (FCR)

FCR as influenced by different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation is shown in Figure 6. Comparatively better FCR (1.85) was noticed in group A (5g/L Camellia sinensis) followed by group B, D (1.9) and C (1.92). Statistically there was prominent (P<0.05) variation within A, B, C and D groups.

Relative organs weight

Results concerning relative weights of liver, heart, spleen, proventiculus, intestine and fat pad as influenced by different levels of Camellia sinensis supplementation are shown in Figure 7. No considerable (P>0.05) change was seen among relative weights of liver, heart, spleen, proventiculus, intestines and fat pad of groups A, B, C and D.

 

	Heart	Liver	Spleen	Proventiculus	Intestine	Fat pad
SE±	1.1304	3.1854	0.0938	2.5472	4.9448	10.064
LSD at 0.05	2.3580	6.6447	0.1957	5.3134	10.315	20.993
P-value	0.1880	0.1875	0.5457	0.8854	0.2010	0.4234

 

Mortality

Regarding mortality rate results are depicted in the Figure 8. It is indicated in the figure that the mortality percentage (%) was equally higher among groups A (2%), B (2%) and D (2%) compared to group C (1%).

 

 

Findings of this study shows that broilers managed in control group D (without supplementation of green tea) consumed higher feed and water intake compared to broilers managed in treatment groups A, B and C (supplemented with 5, 10 and 15g/L of green tea). The decrease in feed and water intake are linked with intoxicating of green tea because it contains high level of catechin that possessed an inhibitory influence on absorption in the intestine (Ikeda et al., 1992). Our findings are agree with the study of (Biswas et al., 2000). Biswas and Wakita (2001) reported that supplementation of Camellia sinensis powder (0.6%) decreases the feed and water intake.

Current study showed that broilers managed under control group D (without supplementation of green tea) attained higher carcass and live body weight contrast to the broilers managed under treated groups including A, B and C (supplemented with 5, 10 and 15g/L of Camellia sinensis). The decreasing pattern in live body weight and carcass weight are associated with the feed intake of broiler. Supplementation of Camellia sinensis powder decreased weight gain as well as carcass weight at higher supplementation dose. Kaneko et al, (2001) stated that 1, 2.5 and 5% of Camellia sinensis linearly reduce weight gain and carcass weight of the broilers chicks. Likewise, Uuganbayar (2004) indicated that 1 to 1.5% green tea supplementation influences the broilers. It reduces the weight gain and carcass weight of chicks. Relevant findings were observed by (Cao et al., 2005) who indicated carcass weight and live weight gain are favored by supplementation of Camellia sinensis.

Further, present study indicated that broilers managed in group A (supplemented with 5g/L of Camellia sinensis) showed better feed conversion ratio as compared to broilers managed in treatment groups B and C (supplemented with 10 and 15g/L of Camellia sinensis) as well as control group D (without Camellia sinensis supplementation). Improvement in feed conversion ratio is linked with minimum intake of feed. Findings are supported by Kaneko et al. (2001), who revealed that supplemental Camellia sinensis powder tended to improve FCR. Shomali et al. (2012) stated that Camellia sinensis tea powder in broiler ration displayed improvement in FCR.

Although some parts of the carcass were influenced but relative weight of organs was not significantly affected by Camellia sinensis. The thigh meat increased with 1.50 percent supplementation level, while wing meat was reduced among all treated groups. Percentage of abdominal fat significantly decreased by Camellia sinensis supplementation. Yang et al. (2003) and Guray et al. (2011) reported that with the increase of Camellia sinensis level, abdominal fat declines in broilers. It is also consistent with present observations about broiler chicks that Camellia sinensis powder prominently reduce the quantity of abdominal fat and cholesterol in blood and liver. It is also interesting to note that Camellia sinensis feeding enhances the behavioral activity of broilers, which is actually gap in our study (Biswas and Wakita, 2001).

 

Conclusions and Recommendations

Present study concludes that highest values for feed intake, water intake, live body weight, weight gain and carcass weight was noted in group D. Better FCR was recorded in group A. Least weight of heart, liver, spleen, proventiculus, intestine, fat pad and minimum mortality rate was observed in group C.

 

Novelty Statement

Application of Camellia sinensis in broilers’ diet is very unique aspect of our study. It has been first time explored in the world that the Camellia sinensis could be a beneficial plant product for broilers. Our study has proved that this plant product supports the performance of broilers and make poultry enterprise much economical.

 

Author’s Contribution

Mohsin Ali Alias Mehran Khan Solangi, Gulfam Ali Mughal and Asad Ali Khaskheli: Conceived the idea, collected data and entered the data in SPSS for analysis.

Maqsood Ahmed Kumbhar: Provided technical input at every step.

Nazeer Ahmed Rajput: Did SPSS analysis.

Asad Ali Khaskheli: Wrote abstract, introduction, methodology, results and discussion, conclusion.

Turab Ali Kaurejo and: Contributed in overall management of the article.

Qurban Ali Memon: Contributed in the references.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

 

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