INCLUSION OF PHYTOBIOTICS IN DRINKING WATER AS NATURAL GROWTH PROMOTER ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of phytobiotics (Neem, Pawpaw, Moringa, and Thyme leaf meals) included in drinking water as natural growth promoters on carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. It was conducted at the Poultry Research Unit, Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev. A total of 150-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five dietary groups with 30 birds per group: a control group (T1) and treatment groups with neem (T2), pawpaw (T3), moringa (T4) and thyme leaf supplements (T5). The results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in final weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the phytobiotic-supplemented groups with the best feed conversion on T2, with Pawpaw leaf meal (T3) exhibiting superior performance. Carcass characteristics, including live weight, dressing percentage, neck, wing, drumstick, thigh, and breast meat, were significantly improved in the phytobiotic-supplemented groups, particularly in T3. The findings suggest that Pawpaw leaf meal can be used as a natural growth promoter to enhance carcass characteristics in broiler chickens, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional growth promoters.