Growth Response and Gastrointestinal Tract Characteristics of Broiler Chicks offered Additives Extracts of Aspilia africana Leaves

Abstract

The effect of additives produced from Aspilia africana leaves using different extraction methods on the seventh day performance of broiler chicken was studied. Fresh A. Africana leaves were dried for 48 hours and thereafter, macerated. Extraction of 4. africana leaves was performed using six methods; water decoction, methanol, and ethanol extraction, followed by microwave assisted repeats of the three extraction media. The additive production was completed by the addition of sodium benzoate as preservative and Aspartame® as sweetener to each extract. They were designated A. africana water decoct (AAWD); A. Africana microwave assisted water decoct (AMWD); A. africana ethanol extract (AAEE); A. Africana microwave assisted ethanol extract (AMEE); A. africana methanol extract (AAME), and A. africana microwave assisted methanol extract (AMME). 168-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups of 24 chicks each. Each group was replicated 4 times in a 2 x 4 factorial in a completely randomized design experiment. The seven additives (treatments) were randomly assigned to the groups as follows: Tl (control- no additive), T2 (AAWD), T3 (AMWD), T4 (AAEE), T5 (AAEE), T6 (AAME) and T7 (AMME). Each replicate group received 2ml of the additive per litre of drinking water daily. Seventh day performance results showed that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatment groups. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) results showed that crop weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the control while other GIT parameters measured where similar (p>0.05) across treatment groups. In conclusion, inclusion of 2ml each of differently processed A. Africana additive in drinking water of broiler chicks daily did not have any significant effect on growth performance of broilers in the first seven days of age.