Impact of Cofee Weed (Senna occidentalis) Leaf Aqueous Extract as Probiotic on the Performance of Broiler Chickens in Humid Tropical Environment

Aim: To investigate the growth performance, carcass traits, organ weights, costs and returns of 120 day-old Aborican broiler chicks placed on different dosages of Senna occidentalis leaf aqueous extract.

Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD) was used.

Place and duration of study: Department of Animal Science, Poultry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State of Nigeria between June and July 2017 (eight weeks).

Methodology: Twenty four chicks were randomly selected based on their average initial weights and assigned to five dosages (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ml) of coffee weed leaf aqueous extract (CWLAE) designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with T1 serving as positive control. Each treatment group contained three replicates with eight birds per replicate.

Results: Data on growth performance showed that only the final live weight and daily weight gain were significantly (P=.05) higher in birds that had 50mls of coffee weed leaf aqueous extract and lowest in those placed on 100 mls of CWLAE at the finisher phase. Carcass traits revealed that live weight, plucked weight, eviscerated weight and dressing percentage were significantly (P=.05) higher among birds that had 50ml of CWLAE compared to other dietary treatments. The relative weights of drumstick, thighs, breast, wings, neck, back, shanks, abdominal fat, lungs, liver, heart, whole gizzard and bursa were significantly (P=.05) influenced by the treatments. The costs and returns analyses of broiler chickens revealed that cost of feed consumed and cost of feed per kilogram weight gain was lowest among birds placed on the control, but the highest income and net profit were recorded among birds placed on 50 mls of coffee weed leaf aqueous extract.

Conclusion: Senna occidentalis aqueous leaf extracts can be used as a probiotic additive at 50 mls / liter of water to enhance the performance, carcass traits, cost and returns of broiler chickens.