Effects Of Dried Centella Asiatica Leaf Meal as An Herbal Feed Additive On The Growth Performance, Haematology And Serum Biochemistry Of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of supplementing different levels of Spondiasmombin leaf meal on the performance and blood profile of broiler chickens. Experimental parameters covered growth performance and some heamatological and blood serum analysis. One hundred and sixty, day old Arbo acre broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments groups with four (4) replicates, each of ten birds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Group 1 was fed basal diet without Spondiasmombin leaf meal (SSM), Group 2, 3 and 4 were fed basal diets supplemented with SSM at levels of 1.0%, 2.0% and 3.0% respectively. The basal diet was formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of broilers according to NRC (1994), the experiment lasted for 49 days and the results obtained showed that there were significant ( P<0.05) differences among all treatments in the values of final live weight and feed conversion ratio. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed for the daily feed intake of the birds. Results for heamatology showed that white blood cell counts, RBC, Hb and PCV were significantly (P<0.05) affected with the inclusion of Spondiasmombin leaf meal, SGPT, SGOT and other serum parameterswere not significantly different (P>0.05) during the experiment. No mortality was recorded throughout the experimental period. Results obtained from this study showed that Spondiasmombin leaf meal is a good source of plant vitamins and minerals and its inclusion at 3.0% level does not have any deleterious effect on the general performance and health status of broiler chicken.