Effect of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and Pawpaw (Carica papaya) Leaf Extract Mixtures on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Broiler Chicken.

Abstract

There is growing concern about the development of antimicrobial resistance in poultry and humans due to the use of in-feed antibiotics as growth promoters. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bitter leaf and pawpaw leaf extract mixtures as natural alternatives to in- feed antibiotics on the performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. Sixty (60) day-old broiler chickens (Cobb strain) were randomly allotted to four treatment groups of 15 birds per treatment in three replicates. Each replicate had 5 birds. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The experimental design is a Completely Randomized Design. Leaf extract mixtures were obtained from bitter and pawpaw leaves, and added into the bird's drinking water at: 0 mL (T1), 25 mL (T2), 50 mL (T3) and 75 mL (T4) inclusion levels per 3 litre drinker, respectively. All the data collected were subjected to analyses of variance using general linear model of SAS. The results showed that average daily feed intake and total feed intake of broiler chicken were significantly (P<0.05) different but the average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and percentage mortality were not different (P>0.05). Birds on 75 mL inclusion of leaf extract mixtures had the highest final weight gain and remarkable feed conversion ratio. The apparent digestibility of nutrients was significant (P<0.05) across the treatment groups. In conclusion, bitter leaf and pawpaw leaf extract mixtures in drinking water of broiler chickens can be a good source of natural growth promoters as it enhances digestibility of nutrients and growth performance.