PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS ADMINISTERED AQUEOUS BAMBOO (BAMBUSA VULGARIS) LEAF EXTRACT IN DRINKING WATER

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of aqueous bamboo leaf extracts (BLE) in drinking water on performance of broiler chickens. A total of ninety-six (96) day-old broiler (Ross 308) chickens were used for the study. The birds were allotted into four treatments in a completely randomised design. The treatments were T1 (Control, which is ordinary water), T2 (antibiotics (Tetranor 5% at 5g per litre of watre)), T3 (50ml BLE per litre of water) and T4 (100mL BLE per litre of water). Each treatment was replicated four times with 6 birds in each replicate. Performance parameters were taken at the end of every week for the period of 8 weeks of the study. Data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance using SAS (2009) while separation of means was done using Tukey’s test. Result showed that the broiler given 100ml/L of aqueous BLE in drinking water had the highest (P<0.05) final weight and weight gain at both starter and finisher phase. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P<0.05) was best for broilers given 100ml/L of aqueous BLE in drinking water at both starter
and finisher phase. Inclusion of aqueous BLE at both 50ml/L and 100ml/L had no significant (P>0.05) effect on feed intake of broiler at both starter and finisher phase. No mortality was recorded for the group of broilers given 100ml/L of aqueous BLE at finisher phase. It was concluded that inclusion of aqueous BLE at 100ml/L in drinking water improved the weight gain, FCR and reduced mortality of broilers.