Evaluation of intestinal microbial counts and fecal mineral contents of broiler chickens fed varying dietary levels of activated charcoal

The resistance associated with the use of antibiotics has necessitated the dietary supplementation of adsorbents such as activated charcoal (AC) in eliminating pathogens in poultry. One hundred and twenty unsexed day old arbor acre broilers were used. The birds were distributed into four treatment groups (G1-G4) of thirty birds per treatment in a completely randomized design. G1 was control while G2-G4 was fed diet which contained 0.5g/kg, 1.0g/kg and 1.5g/kg of AC respectively. On 7, 28 and 42 days of age, fecal samples were pooled over a 24-hour period from three birds randomly selected from each treatment group for microbial and faecal mineral analyses using standard laboratory techniques. Data collected were analyzed statistically using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and significant differences were accepted at 0.05. Total lactobacillus counts were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the supplemented groups than in the control group on 7 and 28 days of age while total Salmonella and E. coli counts were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the supplemented groups on 28 and 42 days of age. It is concluded that AC increased Lactobacillus counts and reduced E. coli and Salmonella counts. Activated charcoal could therefore be used to modulate the gastro-intestinal microbiome of broiler chickens.