Effect of sprouted papaya seed meal on physiological conditions, intestinal bacterial populations and meat quality of broilers

The study investigated the effect of sprouted papaya seed meal (SPSM) on physiological conditions, intestinal bacteria and meat quality of broilers. A 390 broiler chicks were distributed to T0 (control feed), T1 (feed with 2.5% papaya seed meal [PSM]), T2 (1% SPSM), T3 (2.5% SPSM), and T4 (5% SPSM). Blood, intestinal digesta and meat were obtained at day 36. Feeding 2.5% PSM lowered (P<0.05), but SPSM up to 5% had no effect on daily gain. PSM reduced (p<0.05) feed intake, but not SPSM. Feed efficiency was lower (P<0.05) in T4. Feeding 5% SPSM increased (P=0.06) bursa of fabricius. T1, T3 and T4 had lower (P=0.09) heterophils. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were lower (P<0.05) in T4. Cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio of PSM and SPSM was lower (P<0.05) than control. SPSM at 2.5% increased (P<0.05) serum HDL. PSM-fed birds had lower cholesterol (P=0.07), triglyceride (P=0.09) and lowdensity lipoprotein (P=0.09). PSM or SPSM decreased (P<0.05) serum total protein, albumin and globulin. PSM and SPSM reduced (P<0.05) creatinine. Alanine aminotransferase was reduced (P<0.05) with SPSM at 1 and 2.5%. Ileal lactic acid bacteria to coliform ratio in PSM and SPSM was greater (P<0.05) than in control. Ileal coliform was lower (P=0.08) in PSM and SPSM. PSM reduced (P=0.08) saturated fatty acids, while 1 and 2.5% SPSM increased (P=0.09) unsaturated fatty acids contents of meats. In conclusion, SPSM improved immune competence, blood lipid profile and gut bacterial population of broilers.