Growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens on administration of Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf) leaf extract

Abstract

Abstract
The study assessed the effect of Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract on growth performance and carcass
characteristics of broiler chickens. One hundred and ninety-five day-old Arbor acre strain of broiler
chickens were randomly divided into five groups. The groups were; control, extract from two levels of
fresh (200 and 400 g) and air-dried (40 and 80 g) of ocimum leaves were blended with six litre of
water. Data collected on growth performance and carcass evaluation were subjected to One-way
Analysis of Variance. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) influenced
among all the measured growth parameters at starter phase but none of the parameters was
significantly (P<0.05) different across the groups. The highest dressing percentage was obtained from
the chickens on air-dried Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract while the least values were obtained from
those on 400 g of fresh Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract. The same trend was observed in the
proportion of breast while proventiculus was biggest among the group on 80 g of air-dried Ocimum
gratissimum leaf extract. The study concluded that use of either fresh or air-dried equivalent O.
gratissimum leaf extract as alternative to synthetic antibiotics should be prom