GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS ADMINISTERED ORAL AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the effect of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) administered orally on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chicks. Two hundred (200) day old broiler chicks used for the study were assigned in a completely randomized design (CRD) to five treatment groups (four replicates per treatment with ten birds per replicate) identified as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 (0ml without antibiotics, 0ml with antibiotics, 0.2ml, 0.4ml and 0.6ml aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum administered orally, respectively). Data were obtained on body weight and feed intake. Different carcass traits were evaluated by sacrificing two birds per replicate. The final body weight, weekly body weight gain and feed intake were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the oral administration of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum. Chicks on T3 (0.2ml administration) and T5 (0.6ml administration) were 1915.000 and 1880.00g heavier than those in the control group but there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in feed conversion ratio. The dressed weight and dressing percentage decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of the oral administration of the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum. It could be concluded that the use of Ocimum  gratissimum leaf extracts administered orally in the production of broiler had no detrimental effect on the performance of broilers. However, Ocimum gratissimum leaf extracts administered up to 0.6ml improved growth performance of broiler chicks.