1
Efficacy of Herbal Mixture (Mu-Plus®) Supplementation in Broiler Chickens Diet on
Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility
Danet Laing1,*, Sawitree wongtangtintharn2,#, Bundit Tungjarernkul3
Srisuda Sirilaophaisan4, Jowaman Khajarern2 and Pratompong Lahkham2
1
M.Sc program, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen
University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
2
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen,
40002, Thailand
3
Faculty of Veterinary medicines, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
4
Faculty of Natural resources, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Sakon Nakhon
Campus, Thailand
* e-mail: laingdanet@gmail.com, # e-mail: sawiwo@kku.ac.th
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Mu-Plus® (Andrographis
paniculata and Zingiber cassumunar mixture) supplementation at 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20
% diet on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chickens. Total of sixty
seven-day-old Arber Acres chicks were assigned randomly to five dietary treatments with
four replicates, three birds per each according to completely randomized design. Water and
feed were fed ad libitum. The results revealed that body weight gain, feed intake, feed
conversion ratio, productive index and survival rate value were not significantly different
(P>0.05) among groups. However, broilers fed with Mu-Plus® at concentrate of 0.10 %
leaded to have the higher in growth performance and productive index. Moreover, dry matter
(DM), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE) and fat digestibility were highly significant
difference (P<0.01) between treatments in grower and finisher period. On one hand, the diet
containing Mu-Plus® at 0.05% has shown relatively the highest dry matter, crude protein,
gross energy and fat digestibility. Supplementation of Mu-Plus® at the level of 0.05-0.10%
showed the highest growth performance and nutrient digestibility.
Key words: digestibility, Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber cassumunar, broiler
Introduction
Many researchers have been made to estimate the ability of animal to digest and
absorb the various nutrients in feed ingredients. It is important to the animal’s health and well
being to provide sufficient amount of all critical nutrients. There are persistent indications
that age, breed or sex of a bird may influence the ability to digest and use certain nutrients.
Feed additives are considered to be natural products that consumers might find acceptable.
Mechanism of active substance medicinal plant was affects as appetite stimulating substance,
digestion enhancers, bacterial steering agents, metabolic modifiers, odour neutralizing
component on regulating of performance health condition of the animals [1]. Andrographis
paniculata is a traditional medicine widely used in Asia countries for its antipyretic, antiinflammation, antihepatotoxin, immunostimulant and growth promoting activity and hence
may be used as an alternative to antibiotic [2,3]. Andrographis paniculata had the effect of
imunostimulan and antibacterial was caused the highest performance of hens [4]. Feeding
Andrographis paniculata at 2g/kg was given a positive response on performance of broiler
chickens [5]. Andrographolide increased intestinal digestion and absorption of carbohydrate
in a dose related and time dependent on characteristic activation of brush border membranebound hydrolysis [6]. Moreover, Zingiber cassumunar is used extensively in folk medicine to
treat inflammation, muscle pain, wounds, cough and fever. Otherwise, it also plays important
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roles as immunostimulant activity, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, antimicrobial,
antihistaminic effect, antioxidant activity, antiplatelet aggregation activities, and digestive
herb [7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Broilers fed with Zingiber cassumunar improved productive
performance [12]. The microflora and digestive physiological parameters such as intestinal
enzymes, histomorphological structures of intestine plays a major role in productive
performance of broilers. Therefore, the study was to determine the effects of Mu-Plus®
(Andrographis paniculata and Zingiber cassumunar mixture) supplementation at different
level on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler chickens.
Materials and methods
Animal, diets, and experimental design
A total of sixty seven-day-old Arbor Acres chicks were weighted and separated from
floor-pen open house to battery cages with electrically heated providing. Birds were
randomly allotted to five treatments with four replicates, three birds per each according to
completely randomize design. The basal experimental diet was supplemented with Mu-Plus®
at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 % diet to T1 (control group), T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively.
Moreover, diets were separated into three periods including starter, grower and finisher in
mash form and it meets the animal requirement [13]. All birds were given access ad libitum
to water and feed under a natural tropical condition with the same housing and general
management practices throughout the experimental periods during 42 days of age.
Table 1. Composition of the basal experimental diets of broiler chickens
Ingredients (%)
Yellow corn (7.8 % CP)
Soybean meal (44% CP)
Full-fat soy bean (36 % CP)
Monocalcium phosphate (P21)
Limestone
DL-methionine
L-lysine
Crude rice bran oil
Salt
Choline Chloride 60%
Vitamin-mineral mixes a
Nutrient composition (calculated)
Crude protein (%)
ME (kcal/kg)
Calcium (%)
Avai. phosphorus (%)
Lysine (%)
Methionine (%)
Methionine and cystine (%)
Tryptophan (%)
Threonine (%)
a
Starter
Grower
Finisher
47.1
28
18
2.9
1.4
0.3
0.15
1.3
0.4
0.1
0.35
53.24
19.7
20
2.9
1.4
0.22
0.21
1.5
0.4
0.08
0.35
59.17
14
20
2.38
1.3
0.17
0.15
2
0.4
0.08
0.35
25.51
4,468.82
1.12
22.87
4,471.55
1.13
19.36
4,572.64
0.98
0.52
1.42
0.67
1.06
0.29
0.90
0.53
1.30
0.56
0.91
0.25
0.80
0.45
1.12
0.49
0.81
0.22
0.72
Vitamin-mineral mix supplied per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 10,000 IU; vitamin D 3, 2,500 IU; vitamin E, 10 IU;
vitamin K3, 2.50 mg; thiamine, 2.0 mg; riboflavin, 7.0 mg; pyridoxine, 5.0 mg; vitamin B 12, 30 mcg; d-pantothenic acid,
12 mg; niacin, 50 mg; choline, 1200 mg; folic acid, 1 mg; biotin, 15 mcg; ethoxyquin, 125 mg; Mn, 60 mg; Zn, 40 mg;
Fe, 80 mg; Cu, 8 mg; I, 0.35 mg; Se, 0.15 mg.
Sampling procedure, data collection, and data analysis
Feed offered and refusals were recorded to calculate the feed intake and feed
conversion ratio of broilers in each treatment before change feed and start new feed. Sample
of feed all treatments in all periods were collected and stored at -20˚C for chemical analysis.
Gross energy, dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, crude fiber, calcium and
phosphorus content of the sample were determined according to the procedure of [14]. Final
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body weight was weighed and calculated the body weight gain at the end of each stage of
age. Birds were fed feed that contented Cr2O3 at 0.2 % diets as indicator daily during the last
five days of each period, but fecal samples were collected daily during last three days of each
period. Fecal samples were mixed with H2SO4 10% in order to catch nitrogen during store for
proximate analysis. Samples were combined and used as one sample and then dried at 60˚C,
ground (1 mm screen), and analyzed for crude protein, gross energy, ether extract, and dry
matter [14].
% Indicator in fecal - % Indicator in feed
-Dry matter digestibility, DMD (%) =
x 100
% Indicator in fecal
% Indicator in feed
- Nutrient digestibility, ND (%) = 100 – 100 [
Nutrient in fecal
x
% Indicator in fecal
]
Nutrient in feed
Statistical analyses
All data were subjected to analyze with the ANOVA procedure of SAS program and
significant differences between the treatments mean were determined to Duncan’s multiple
range test (DMRT) [15]. The level of significance was considerate at P<0.05.
Results and discussion
Experimental diet chemical composition: The feed ingredients used in the
experiment consist of available local ingredient recourses such as yellow corn, soybean meal,
full-fat soy bean, rice bran oil, and choline chloride. Chemical composition analyses of the
experimental basal diets are similar between treatments (Table 1).
Productive performance, economic benefits return, carcass quality: Final body
weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and productive index of broilers
fed with Mu-Plus® as affected by different ratio concentrate are presented in Table 2. Body
weight gain was not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments. However, broilers fed
with Mu-Plus® at 0.10 % leaded to have the higher in body weight gain when compare to the
control group and other groups. This means that the palatability of Mu-Plus® was satisfactory
as it was readily accepted by all birds. Moreover, it can be caused by the active ingredient of
both herbs had stimulated the endogenous digestive enzymes to digest and absorb
monosaccharide and amino acid in the small intestine [16] and stimulated gallbladder to
increase bile flow, bile salts and improved liver function [17], resulting to improve growth
performance and feed efficiency. The results similar to [12] and [18] reported that broilers
fed with Zingiber cassumunar had a better body weight gain. [19] reported that fed
Andrographis paniculata leaf powder to broilers showed increases (P>0.05) the body weight
gain. [20] also reported that fed Herbatob-Mix® (Andrographis paniculata, Curcumin longa
and Momardica charantia) to broilers showed increases (P>0.05) the body weight gain. [21]
also found that animal fed with Herbatob-Mix® + Mu-Plus® showed increases (P>0.05) the
body weight gain which also report by [22]. Moreover, for all four graded levels of Mu-Plus®
did not affect (P>0.05) the feed intake and feed conversion ratio in overall periods of broilers
when compared to the control group. However, bitter taste of Andrographis paniculata and
bad smell of Zingiber cassumunar, feed consumption of broilers was not influenced because
the physiology of broilers do not get the taste and smell of diet. This finding is in agreement
with [23] who reported that fed Mu-Plus® to weaning pigs have no effect (P>0.05) on feed
conversion ratio. [20] reported that fed Herbatob-Mix® to broilers in an overall period was
decreased (P>0.05) feed intake and feed conversion ratio lower than the control group. [21]
also reported that broilers fed with Herbatob-Mix® + Mu-Plus® in an overall period was not
significantly different (P>0.05) in feed conversion ratio between groups. [12] and [18] also
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reported that broilers fed with Zingiber cassumunar provided the best feed conversion ratio in
an overall period. [19] reported that feed conversion ratio of broilers fed with Andrographis
paniculata leaf powder was decreased (P>0.05) which also report by [5]. [24] found that fed
Andrographis paniculata meal to laying hen showed increases hen day production (P<0.05)
and given a positive response to decrease feed consumption and feed conversion ratio
(P>0.05) of laying hens. [25] also reported that fed andrographolide higher than 6 ppm to
weaning pigs showed increases (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio when compared to control.
Table 2. Effects of Mu-Plus® in the diet of broilers on growth performance and productive index in an overall
period (42 days of age)
Treatments
Mu-Plus® (% )
Initiate
BW (g/b)
Final
BW (g/b)
BWG
(g/b)
FI
(g/b)
FCR
SR
(%)
PI*
T1 T2 0.05
T3 0.10
T4 0.15
T5 0.20
Pooled SEM
P-value
123.67
123.33
126.33
124.33
121.17
6.518
0.948
2,318.20
2,367.70
2,469.20
2,416.30
2,442.30
138.806
0.816
2,194.50
2,244.30
2,342.80
2,292.00
2,321.20
143.359
0.834
4,134.30
4,004.80
4,014.00
3,920.00
4,056.30
237.067
0.917
1.89
1.78
1.72
1.71
1.75
0.098
0.454
100
100
100
100
100
332.96
359.73
391.98
383.53
380.11
39.54
0.614
*Productive index (PI) = (BWG x Survival rate) ÷ (Age x FCR)
Nutrient digestibility: Nutrient digestibility was highly significant difference
(P<0.01) among treatments in grower and finisher period by different ratio of Mu-Plus®
concentrate are shown in Table 3, 4 and 5. The results of this study revealed that broilers fed
with Mu-Plus® at 0.05 % leaded to the higher in dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether
extract (Fat), and gross energy (GE) digestibility in all periods. This means that
Andrographolide play an important role to stimulate the endogenous digestive enzymes that
embedded to brush border such as lactase, maltase, sucrase, lipase, and peptidase ability to
digest and absorb monosaccharide, triglyceride and amino acid in small intestine [16].
Andrographolide and phenylbutenoid compounds (Zingiber cassumunar) function are in
immunostimulatory activity to stimulate antibody [4, 10].
Table 3. Effect of Mu-Plus® in the diet on nutrient digestibility of broilers at 1-21 days of age
Treatments
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
SEM
Contrast
Lin
Quad
Cubic
Quar
Mu-Plus®
(% diet)
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
Nutrient digestibility (%)
DM
CP
Fat
60.56
64.29
70.37
62.30
65.89
72.33
62.07
62.97
73.89
59.84
63.54
71.51
60.60
63.73
73.35
2.619
2.609
2.635
--------------------------------- Probability ------------------------------------NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
NS
GE
69.93
72.20
70.79
71.27
70.76
2.637
NS
NS
NS
NS
On one hand, Andrographolide also play role as a potent stimulator of gallbladder function by
producing a significant increase in bile flow, bile salts and improved liver function [17, 26].
[23] reported that energy, protein, fat, and dry matter digestibility of weaning pigs fed with
Mu-Plus® were not significantly different (P>0.05) among groups. This find is in agreement
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with [22] who reported that weaning pigs fed with Herbatob-Mix® + Mu-Plus® were
significant increase (P<0.05) protein, fat, dry matter, and energy digestibility when compared
with the control group. [25] reported that fed andrographolide to weaning pigs showed
increases (P<0.05) dry matter, gross energy, and fat digestibility with increasing the level of
andrographolide in the diet.
Table 4. Effect of Mu-Plus® in the diet on nutrient digestibility of broilers at 22-35 days of age
Treatments
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
SEM
Mu-Plus®
(% diet)
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
Contrast
Lin
Quad
Cubic
Quar
Nutrient digestibility (%)
DM
CP
Fat
GE
72.99b
75.23a
79.69c
82.48ab
75.68a
75.28a
83.83a
82.97a
b
b
a
73.06
70.31
84.63
81.36b
c
b
bc
68.95
70.93
80.58
79.87c
c
c
ab
69.10
67.50
82.45
79.47c
0.846
0.897
0.877
0.493
--------------------------------- Probability ------------------------------------**
*
**
NS
**
NS
NS
*
NS
**
**
*
**
NS
*
NS
a,b,c,
column means with different superscripts differ significantly at P <0.05.
* = P<0.05, ** = P<0.01 and NS = non significant.
Table 5. Effect of Mu-Plus® in the diet on nutrient digestibility of broilers at 36-42 days of age
Treatments
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
SEM
Contrast
Lin
Quad
Cubic
Quar
Mu-Plus®
(% diet)
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
Nutrient digestibility (%)
DM
CP
Fat
GE
74.63b
70.82a
82.33c
81.90b
77.10a
70.49a
87.06a
83.63a
b
b
bc
74.11
63.35
83.35
81.45b
d
c
d
63.78
56.60
75.22
72.90d
c
b
b
71.76
66.00
84.31
79.63c
0.725
1.056
0.521
0.563
--------------------------------- Probability ------------------------------------**
NS
**
**
**
**
**
NS
**
*
**
**
**
*
**
**
a, b, c, d column
means with different superscripts differ significantly at P <0.05.
* = P<0.05, ** = P<0.01 and NS = non significant.
Conclusions
The results from this experiment clearly demonstrated that Mu-Plus® supplementation
in whole period of broiler diets (42 days) showed a beneficial effect on productive
performance, enhancing nutrient digestibility especially fat, crude protein and energy
digestibility because of bioactive ingredient of both herbs act role as stimulating substance,
digestive enhancer and metabolic modifier, that it resulting in an overall improvement of
growth performance, feed efficiency and PI when comparing with the control group.
Supplementation of Mu-Plus® at the level of 0.05-0.10% showed the highest growth
performance and nutrient digestibility.
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Acknowledgements
The authors express their appreciation to Lily FoodAnSci LTD, Thailand for
providing Mu-Plus® and funds for this project.