PERFORMANCE, IMMUNOLOGY AND ILEUM HISTOMORPHOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH SENNA ALATA, CHROMOLEANA ODORATA AND THEIR COMBINATION

Abstract

A 42day feeding trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of Chromoleana odorata (Siam weed), Senna alata(Ringworm bush) leaf and their combination on the growth performance, immunity and histomorphology of the ileum of broiler chickens. 100day old broiler chicks in four dietary treatments of twenty-five birds, replicated thrice with at least eight birds per replicate in a completely randomised design was used for the trial. Treatment one was control (T₁), T₂, 1.5g/kg Siam weed, T_3, 1.5g/kg Senna alata leaf and T₄, combination of 1.5:1.5g/kg Siam weed and Senna alata leaves. Data was collected on the feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Blood sample was collected at day one (1), ten (10) and thirty-four (34) to assess immunoglobulin levels of the birds. At the end of the experiment two birds per replicate were sacrificed and sample of the ileum was taken in 10% formalin solution to the laboratory for assessment. Results of the study showed significance in the feed intake and feed conversion ratio with the Siam weed   having the highest value for feed intake (2839.00g) and the combination having the least feed intake (2534.70g). The control group had the least feed conversion ratio (1.53). Results of the immunity studies showed control having the best values at day 34 (2.67) closely followed by Senna alata (1.00). The combination group did not show any immunity at day 34. Only the villi height to crypt depth ratio showed no significance for the histomorphology. It was concluded that Senna alata leaf can boost immunity in broiler chickens