Utilization of Justicia carnea aqueous leaf extract for growth and carcass yield by finisher broiler chickens

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels ( 0 ml, 10 mls, 15 mls and 20 mls )  of Justicia carnea aqueous leaf extract on growth and carcass yield of ninety-six (96) 4-weeks old broiler chickens. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design pattern using four (4) treatments. The chickens were weighed at the end of the fourth week and randomly allotted to the four treatments levels that were replicated twice to accommodate 12 chickens per replicate. The initial body weight of 842.70 g, 849.70 g, 834.90 and 833.90 g were recorded for treatment 1 (T1), treatment 2 (T2), treatment 3 (T3) and treatment 4 (T4) that received 0ml, 10 mls, 15 mls and 20 mls of the Justicia carnea aqueous leaf extract respectively. Fresh green Justicia carnea leaves were harvested, washed, air - dried under shade and blended to produce a leaf- paste. One part of the leaf- paste was mixed with 2 parts of hot (100°c) water and allowed to stay for six hours to ensure that quite a good quantity of the leaf ingredients were extracted. The mixture was then filtered with Watchman's No1 filter paper to obtained the filtrate ( the aqueous leaf extract) that were stored in closed containers and preserved in refrigerator at 2°c for further use in this 
experiment. The test extract was then administered thrice weekly from the beginning of week 5 to end of week 8 of the experiment. Feed and water were provided ad libitum all through the period of this experiment. Records of feed intake and body weight changes were taken on daily and weekly basis respectively for the computation of the performance ability of the chickens; while carcass analysis was done at the end of the experiment using two birds carefully selected from each replicate, weighed, slaughtered and the carcass attributes measured. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of Genstat Statistical Package (12th edition); and significant means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) of the same package. Results revealed significant ( p < 0.05 ) differences in the mean values of final body weight/ live weight, dressing percentage, weights of neck, gizzard, and spleen of the broiler chickens; while the rest of the carcass attributes ( carcass weights, weights of carcass cut parts and organs weights ) under investigation did not show significant ( p > 0.05 ) differences in their treatment means. However, birds in the 10 mls level group of the extract consumed less quantity of feed (170.60 g) but yielded higher daily weight gain (55.72 g) resulting in significant ( p < 0.05 ) final body weight (4630 g) over its counterparts, as well as those in the control group. Hence, it could be concluded that Justicia carnea aqueous leaf extract should be incorporated into broiler chickens’ production at a recommended level of 10 mls daily dose regimen.