EFFECT OF ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID ON BONE PHYSIOLOGY OF BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK COCKS

Abstract

This research investigated the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on bone tensional and compressional strength and mineral composition. Forty-eight Barred Plymouth Rock breeder cocks were used for this trial. The birds were randomly assigned to four treatment diets at 12 birds per treatment, replicated four times at 3 birds per replicate. Four experimental diets with varying level of ASA were formulated. The first diet was the control diet without ASA (0.00%) and labeled as T1 while the remaining three (3) diets were labeled as T2, T3 and T4 with 0.025kg, 0.050kg and 0.075kg of ASA supplementation per 100kg of feed. The birds were fed with these diets for the entire duration of experiment. All birds were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Prior to slaughter, the birds were weighed to determine their live weight. The drumsticks and thighs were cut out of the carcass and weighed after defeathering. The tibias and femora of both legs were obtained by removing accompanying flesh surrounding them with knife and weighed. The bones were oven-dried for three days to determine the dry weight of the bone. Ninety-six bones comprising forty-eight tibia and forty-eight femur bones were taken to the Forestry and Wood Technology Laboratory to determine bone tensional and compressional strength using Material Testing Machine. Proximate and minerals (Calcium, Phosphorus, and Magnesium) analysis of the bones were carried out. The results revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in right and left bone weight. The 0.050% acetylsalicylic acid increased left and right femur weight. Dietary ASA supplementation increased % moisture content of the femur bones significantly relative to the control at 0.075% ASA while it decreased tibia bones % moisture content at 0.075% ASA supplementation. Acetylsalicylic acid supplementation decreased calcium content in femur at 0.05% and enhanced phosphorus at 0.050% and 0.075%. The calcium content of tibia was equally depressed at 0.050% ASA while phosphorus was decreased by ASA in the tibia at 0.050 and 0.075%. The crude protein content of tibia bones was enhanced (P<0.05) by ASA supplementation. The ASA supplementation also improved (P<0.05) the flesh to bone ratio of the drumstick relative to the control even at 0.075% and those of the right thigh up to 0.050% ASA supplementation. In conclusion, feeding supplemented ASA as recommended in this experiment would improve the flesh to bone ratio of the drumstick. Also the increase in the crude protein content of the tibia bones is a pointer to the improved integrity of the bones through ASA supplementation. The ASA supplementation led to improvement in the right and left thigh weight thus improving the retail cuts of this choice portion of the carcass. The ASA supplementation led to improvement of bone rigidity when tensional and compressional forces are put into consideration. Further studies are suggested to unravel the disparity in the metabolism and bone physiology of the tibia and femur to explain contrasts in their moisture content under ASA supplementation.