Volume 14, Issue 33, January - June, 2020

Performance, haemato-biochemical parameters of broiler chicks administered Rolfe (Daniellia oliveri) leaf extract as an antibiotic alternative

Olafadehan O.A, Oluwafemi R.A, Alagbe J.O^♦

Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria; Email: demsonfarms@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to investigate the performance, haemato-biochemical parameters of broiler chicks administered Daniellia oliveri leaf extract (DOE) as an antibiotic alternative. A total of 250 (Ross 308) one-day old broiler chicks were allotted to five treatments in a completely randomized design and each treatment group was further sub-divided into five replicates containing ten (10) birds each. Treatment 1 (Control) was given 1.20 g/ liter of Neomycin in water, while treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 were given DOE at 10 ml, 20 ml, 30 ml and 40 ml/liter of water respectively. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks during which performance, hematology and serum parameters were recorded. Average daily gain (DWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were significantly influenced by the dietary treatment (P<0.05). Average daily feed intake (AFI) and daily water consumption were not significantly different among the treatment (P>0.05). However, increasing the level of DOE from 10 ml to 40 ml/liter tend to decrease the AFI. Highest mortality was recorded in birds fed T1 (10%) followed by T2 (3%), T3 (1%) respectively, none was recorded in T4 and T5. Results on hematology revealed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the values of PCV, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC and its differentials. All results on the serum biochemical parameters were significantly different among the treatment (P<0.05) except for creatinine, total bilirubin, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and chloride ions which were not influenced (P>0.05) by dietary feeding of DOE. It was concluded that feeding birds DOE up to 40 ml/litre enhanced the overall performance and does not have any deleterious effect on the animal.

Keywords: Daniellia oliveri; Performance; haematology; serum; broiler chicks

Drug Discovery, 2020, 14(33), 135-145

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