Evaluation of aqueous blended leaves to replace antibiotics as growth promoter in broiler chickens

Abstract

The increase in the demands for poultry meat as a result of population growth among other factors has propelled farmers to find safe best growth promoter as alternative to antibiotics use.This study evaluates the effect of bitter, scent, pawpaw, and the blend of these three leaf extracts on growth performance of starter and finisher broiler chickens. A total of two hundred and eighty-eight (288) day old chicks were used in a 56-days feeding trial. The birds were randomly assigned to 6 treatments; T1- 0 mls, T2- 0.5 g of antibiotics, and 30 mls each of bitter (Vernoniaamygdalina), scent (Ocimum gratissimum), pawpaw (Carica papaya), and blend of three leaves (T3, T4, T5, and T6 respectively) per litre of drinking water. Leaves were plucked fresh, weighed and blended. Commercial starter and finisher feeds were given ad libitum. Blended leaf had the lowest percent ether extract and ash content. Percent crude protein of bitter leaf is the highest significantly (P<0.05) followed by blended leaf extract. Final weight gain at starter phase of blended leaf was significantly (P<0.05) higher than scent leaf and pawpaw leaf. Leaf extract can serve as antimicrobial in birds to improve the health status of birds and can be used as a growth promoter in finisher birds.