The effect of whole date waste on zootechnical performances and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens in the semi-arid region of Algeria

Guedjal Fatiha¹, Bouazid Ahmed Amine², Irina Vladimirovna Toporova³ and Lydia Viktorovna Toporova³

¹ The Agricultural Sciences Department, Ferhat Abbas University of Sétif 1,19000 Sétif, Algeria
ahmedamine.bouazid@univ-biskra.dz
² Faculty of Sciences and Sciences of Nature and Life, Department of Agronomy, University Mohamed Kheider Biskra, BP 145 RP 07000, Algeria
³ Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Moscow 109 472 Russia

Abstract

In Algeria, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is widely cultivated, producing date waste that can be used in animal feed. This study evaluates the growth performance; physiological and biochemical blood parameters of broiler chickens fed with date waste. 300 one-day-old Arbore Acres broiler chicks, each weighing 41 g, were divided into two groups of 150 chicks each. An energy protein compound (EPC) was created using date waste and combined with synthetic amino acids (0.5% lysine and 1% methionine). Enzymes (α-amylase and β-glucanase) were added at 100 grams per ton. Two rations were created: a control group with 0% EPC and an experimental group replacing 20% of maize with EPC. After a 42-day feeding trial, broilers in the experimental group showed a 1.67% increase in average daily gain and a 2.46% increase in live weight compared to the control group. Blood biochemical analysis indicated that the experimental group had higher protein metabolism indicators, glucose levels and total phosphorus (p<0.05). Substituting maize with an EPC in broiler diets resulted in increased body weight gain and improved blood biochemical parameters. This suggests that date waste can be an effective alternative feed ingredient for broiler chickens.

Key words: animal feed, body weight, maize substitution, phoeniceae

Introduction

In poultry feeding, it is possible to effectively utilize by-products and organic waste derived from the food industry, fruit and vegetable processing, confectionery, and various other products. Since organic waste releases harmful substances when decomposed in the atmosphere, they can serve as a non-conventional source in animal feed, ensuring a reduction in the cost of animal products and environmental pronon conventional feed ingredients are being used in poultry feeding like barley, broken rice, sorghum. Date waste, can seamlessly replace maize in poultry diets without compromising performance. (Bouazid et al 2019).

The world date production has seen a notable rise, increasing from 2.8 million tons in 1985 to 5.4 million tons in 2001(Attia et al 2021). In Algeria, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) constitutes one of the main crops, covering a total area of 170,000 hectares encompassing all categories, which place the country among the main date producers in the world (Abdelmalek 2023), occupying the third position in terms of quantity (Noureddine et al 2022). Its annual production has reached 700,000 tonnes, with 25% of this total consisting of inedible dates (Boulal é Rahmani 2023).

Date waste can be used as raw materials for animal feed, especially as the problem of finding and using non-conventional feeds, including local sources to feed poultry, remains relevant given the growing global demand for animal proteins, particularly for broiler meat (Altmann et al 2018; Boulale é Rahmani 2023).

Date stone meal (DSM) is rich in carbohydrates with 69.7 to 76.5%, proteins with 2.5 to 4.17% (Meradi et al, 2016) and crude fiber with 4.96 to 24 % (Alaeldein et al 2015; Mennani et al 2017). DSM represents a promising alternative as an energy source in poultry feed ingredients. Furthermore, DSM also exhibits functional characteristics attributed to its content of mannans, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant properties (Barreveld 2020). Crushed kernels can serve as an adsorbent in the gizzard, and ensuring the grinding of feed particles, thus contributing to an increase in feed assimilation (Bouazid et al 2019). However, the variable results of feeding with date by-products require further research to validate their effectiveness on the growth performance and health of broiler chickens. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the growth performance, physiological and biochemical blood parameters of broiler chickens fed with date waste.

Materials and methods

Experimental locations and conditions

Our study was conducted in the semi-arid region of Sétif province, located in the north-east of Algeria. The experiment was carried out during the summer, The temperature inside the poultry house ranging between 24 and 36 °C, with natural ventilation. The lighting program began with one hour of darkness on the first day, followed by 4 hours of darkness for the next 30 days, and ended with 5 hours of darkness. The litter, with a thickness of 5-10 cm, consisted of sawdust. The conditions within the groups are uniform.

Experimental animals and diets

Three hundred one-day-old broiler chicks from the Arbore Acres strain, weighing 41 g on average, were separated into two homogeneous groups, each consisting of 150 chicks. The surface area of each plot was 15 m², which corresponds to a density of 10 subjects/m².

The date waste used was a by-product of Déglet-Nour variety, originates from a palm grove situated in the Biskra province of Algeria. The choice of this variety was justified by its quantitative importance with 55.76% of national production (Abdelmalek 2023).

The date waste was sun-dried in the open air for 10 days. Then, the waste, including the pulps and pits, was ground into a flour with a particle size ranging from 1 to 2 mm. In the experiment, an energy protein compound (EPC) was created using the date waste combined with synthetic amino acids (0.5% lysine and 1% methionine). Additionally, a blend of enzymes (α-amylase and β-glucanase) was incorporated into the mixture at a rate of 100 grams per ton. The composition and nutritional value of diets in all groups were almost the same, except partial replacement of maize with EPC in experimental groups.

Two different rations were developed. The first one was a control group where the ration contained 0% of EPC, while the second was the experimental group, in which EPC was incorporated to replace 20% of the maize in the ration. The chemical composition of date waste was determined using the AOAC (1990) method. Chemical analyses were performed in three repetitions. The focus of the analysis was on the dry matter, fat, ash, crude fiber, crude protein and amino acids (Table 1).

Experimental measurements

The feed intake was calculated daily at a fixed time (8:00 a.m.) and the chickens were weighed weekly before feeding them; for the duration of the 42-day experiment. Live weight gain and average daily gain were calculated from weighing results. Mortality was documented according to the cases and autopsies were performed on the deceased subjects to identify the reasons for their death. Towards the end of the experiment, six individuals (3 males + 3 females) were randomly selected from the control and experimental groups and were slaughtered. Subsequently, blood samples were collected to analyze the levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, and glucose in the blood serum, using the Tietz method (1999). Biochemical parameters values were determined on an automatic “Stat fax” analyzer (USA).

Statistical analysis

The scientific data collected were processed using Microsoft Office Excel software, utilizing its Descriptive Statistics analysis tool. The statistical significance of mean comparisons was calculated using the T-test functions, the average value, statistical error of the average of each indicator are determined with the software (SPSS version 27.0). Significance was determined by considering a p-value of ≤0.05 for the difference between the experimental and control group data.

Results and discussions

Chemical composition

The chemical analysis of date waste, EPC and maize (Table 1) reveals a variable composition, especially in terms of total sugars, crude proteins, and crude fibers content. Date waste had high sugar content (65.14%) compared to maize (18%). This value is comparable to those reported by Boukhris et al (2017) with 64% and Meradi & Alloui (2009) with 63.7%. These serve as a good source of energy and can consequently replace maize in poultry feed. Furthermore, date waste is higher in crude fiber content (12.17%) compared to maize (2.2%).

Moreover, Boudechiche et al (2010) reported a crude fiber content of 5.68%, and Meradi (2016) reported 23.7%. Regarding total nitrogenous matter, the results show that date waste has a lower content (3.15%) compared to maize (8.1%). It should be noted that the slight difference between our values (chemical composition) and those of previous authors who had used the same variety could be attributed to variations in the methods of testing by-products, the fruit's maturity stage, or the agronomic conditions (El-Deek et al 2010). On the other hand, various researchers who examined different date varieties have identified a protein deficiency in them: 4.93% according to Mkaouar et al (2013) and 3.8% according to Najafi et al (2021). Therefore, the use of date waste should preferably be combined with a complementary protein source. Consequently, 0.5% L-lysine and 1% DL-methionine, as well as a glycolytic enzyme complex, have been introduced into the EPC.

Two diets were formulated, containing 0% and 20% of the energy-protein compound in maize substitution for the three growth phases over a total of 42 days.

Mortality

The mortality rate was low in both groups at 4% each, indicating that there was no adverse impact of the EPC on the chicken's performance (Table 3). Al-Homidan (2003) reported that using date waste had no noticeable effect on the broiler mortality rate, which remained at 2.2% throughout the entire experimental period of 0 to 7 weeks. Kamel et al. (1981); Abdel-Sattar et al (2019) observed that varying levels of DSM (date stone meal) had no impact on broiler mortality. Their findings indicated no correlation between chick mortality and the inclusion of date pits in the diets. According to El-Far (2016), substituting up to 200 g/kg of wheat bran with date waste in the diet had no effect on chicken mortality.

Growth Performance

The dynamics of live weight, growth rate, and feed consumption are presented in Table 4, indicating that throughout the entire growth period, the average daily gain in live weight for the chicks receiving the EPC was higher than that of the control group. In the first 7 days, The difference in live weight in the group receiving date waste was 3.3% higher (p<0.05) than the control group, but this difference decreased over 28 days, with live weights of 1244 g and 1243.9 g for the control and experimental groups, respectively. At the end of the rearing period, the live weight of the broiler chickens in the experimental group was 53g higher than that of the control group. During the first 14 days of rearing, the live weight of chickens in the experimental group fed with EPC instead of maize was 2.12% higher than that of the control group. At 28 days of age, there was no difference (p = 0.991) between the control group and the experimental group, with weights of 1244g and 1243.9g, respectively.

In general, over the entire rearing period, the average daily weight gain of broiler chickens, in experimental group increased by 1.67% compared to the control group, with feed intake quantities of 4367.45g and 4265.97g, respectively. According to Masoudi et al (2011) and Boukhris et al (2017), the rise in feed consumption by broiler chickens fed a diet containing 30% dates is attributed to the higher crude fiber content in the experimental diet, resulting from the crushed pits in the dates.

On the other hand, Tareen et al. (2017) concluded that 3-4% date pits in the broiler chicken diet significantly decreased feed consumption but increased water intake, live weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage, net profit per chicken, and reduced feeding costs. Zangiabadi and Torki (2010) report that including date waste in broiler diets at levels of 10 to 35% does not adversely affect growth performance. However, Kamel et al (1981) observed that using 47.7% whole date as a complete replacement for maize led to a slight reduction in feed conversion efficiency in chicks.

To enhance the effect of EPC, essential amino acids and enzymes were incorporated into its composition. Mathlouthi, et al (2003); Al-Saffar et al (2012) reported that enzyme supplementation improved the body weight of broilers by reducing antinutritional factors present in date waste. Attia and Al-Harthi (2015) found that the best growth performance and production indices were achieved when date waste was included at 50 g/kg. Furthermore, incorporating 20% date waste in the diet of broilers from 21 to 40 days old had no negative impact on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, blood serum constituents, or parameters of the carcass and internal organs.

Blood biochemical parameters

The results of the analysis of blood biochemical parameters revealed that the experimental group showed an increase in protein metabolism indicators, glucose levels, and total phosphorus (p<0.05), indicating potential differences in health or nutritional status between the two groups. The same results founded by Jassim (2010) who revealed an increase in serum total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose in broilers fed date waste. Masoudi et al (2011) shows that the blood sugar levels of birds fed a diet containing 20% ​​of date by-products were higher than those of the control diet. According to Najafi et al (2021), incorporating whole date waste into the diet of ostriches resulted in a linear increase (p < 0.01) in blood RBC count, lymphocyte percentage, glucose concentration, and glutathione peroxidase activity. The serum concentrations of metabolites serve as indicators of the metabolic status of animals (Ghasemi et al 2013).

Stress leads to increased glucose metabolism in chickens. According to Virden and Kidd (2009), increasing dietary glucose or adding amino acids, which can be converted to glucose seems to have the potential to reduce stress. Therefore, higher concentrations of glucose in the blood of broiler chickens fed a diet containing 20% dates could enhance their ability to resist stressful conditions.

Conclusion

Substitution of maize with an energy protein compound derived from inedible dates in broiler diets showed favorable results, including increased body weight gain and improvement in blood biochemical parameters. This could potentially provide better mechanisms of resistance to stressful conditions in broilers.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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