CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND VILLI MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIET CONTAINING COMBINATIONS OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM AND OCIMUM CANUM

Abstract

Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) and curry leaf (Ocimum canum) essential oils possess all the attributes of natural growth promoters (NGPs) and may be used as an alternative to common artificial growth promoters. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of combination of Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum canum on carcass characteristics and villi morphometric traits of broiler chickens. A total of 405 day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were allotted randomly to five dietary treatments each replicated thrice, with 27 chicks. Combination of Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum canum were included at 0g, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 (T1-T4) while oxytetracycline was used as positive control (T5). Data were collected and analyzed on carcass characteristics and villi morphometric traits using analysis of variance and significant differences among treatment means were compared using Tukey procedures. Result on carcass characteristics revealed that cut parts were similar statistically but organs weights were significantly (p<0.05) increased while abdominal fat contents were reduced in birds fed combinations of the PFAs (p<0.05) at 600:200 and 200:600 g/100kg diet. Villi area, villi perimeter, height, width, crypt depth and villi height/crypt depth ratio were higher (p<0.05) in birds fed dietary combinations of O. gratissimum and O. canum at 600:200 and AGP compared to the control. Inclusion of O. gratissimum and O. canum in broiler chickens diets in combinations at 600:200 and 200:600 resulted into higher live weight, dressing percentage and villi morphometric traits with reduction in abdominal fat. Farmers and feed millers can use O. gratissimum and O. canum each in combinations at 600:200 or 200:600 g/100kg diets for improved live weight.