ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to know the effect of leaf
extracts bitter leaf, Awolowo leaf scent leaf and bridelia leaf on the
performance and some blood parameters of broilers finisher chicken. A
total of one hundred and thirty unsexed Marshall` broilers chicken
finisher were used during the course of this study which lasted for 4
weeks.
They were randomly selected and assigned to five
treatment growth. The first treatment senled as control with no leaf
extracts. Each treatment was replicated three times with nine (9) birds
per replicate. Feed and water served adlititum. Data collected were
subsectted to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean comparison
was made using Duncan’s multiple range test. The result of the study
revealed that weight gain, feed intake, feed: gain ratio and water
intake of the birds were not significantly (P>0.05) different from
the various treatments.
The PCV, Neutrophil and lymphocyte was
observe to be lower in control when compared to other treatments, this
can be attributed to the fact that the leaf extract tend to favour blood
parameter. However, the result was different in biochemical parameters
which intake that cholesterol, glucose, Trighyceride, LDL and HDL was
tend to be higher than other treatments. The leaf extract have effect on
the treatments. This study indicate that these aforementioned leaf
extract can greatly reduce the level of cholesterol, glucose
Trighyceride, LOL and HLD which suggest that it will be beneficial to
human inn arresting some aliment such as stroke, heart disease.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page --------
Abstract --------
Certification--------
Dedication --------
Acknowledgement -------
Table of Content-------
CHAPTER ONE
1.0INTRODUCTION
The utilization of leaves and leaf extracts in animal production is gradually being accepted.
Some
leaf extracts have shown to have some appetizing and digestion
stimulating properties, some of the leaf extracts have also been shown
to have anti-parasitic, anti-diarrhoeric, anti-microbial, antidiabetic
and some other beneficial properties. According to Ezekweusils et al
(2004), when some of these plant leaves are crushed, the leaf juice is
used to treat stomach pain, convulsion, catarrh and diabetic in human
being. It is cleared that some of the agents contained in these leaf
extracts are used in cure of fever. (Agomo, 1992) Some of the leaves are
burnt to repel mosquitoes. It is possible that water extracts of some
of these plant leaves may have similar beneficial effect on poultry.
Some
of the common plant leaves available in Benin City include bitter leaf
(Vernonia amygdalina), Awolowo leaf (Chromoleana odorata) scent leaf
(Ocimum gratissimum and Bridelia ferruginea (Euphobiaceae).
The use of these various plants extract in broiler production, has been documented (Essien et al, 2007).
Bitter
leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) scent leaf (Ocimum gratisimium) siam leaf
(Chromolaena odorata) and Bridelia ferruginea are commonly found in
south-eastern and south west part of Nigeria. These plants has been
found useful to both man and animal either consuming the leaves, root,
bark or stem.
The bitter leaf also known as Ewuro (Yoroba),
Etidot (Cross River) is a shrub or small tree of 2 – 5m with petiolate
leaf of about 6mm and elliptic shape.
These leaves are commonly
found in eventually all parts of West-Africa. It is cultivated in
Nigeria in most-part of the countries especially in southern and western
part of Nigeria (Teguia et.al, 1993).The bitter leaf is believed to
have certain principal chemical properties found in the herb, are a
class of compound called steroid glycoside type vernoniocideS B1 these
chemical substances possess a potent anti-parasitic, the leaf is
commonly employed as an agent in treating schistosomiasis which is a
disease caused by parasitic worm, it also aid in some ailment like
diarrhea, fever cure etc.
The scent leaf (Ocimum grattisimum) is
a perennial plant and widely distributed in the tropics of Africa and
Asia. It is mainly cultivated in parts of Nigeria especially western,
southern and eastern part of the country. The leaf and whole herb are
used for treating diarrhea and the tea of its leaves are used for cold
and fever (Agomo, 1992) while the leaves are burned to repel
mosquitoes.
It is popularity called “effirin” it is an important
vegetable sold in large markets because of its manifold medicinal
usages. It has average height of about 1 – 3 meter a woody plant, with
broad leaves and narrow ovate, usually 5 – 15cm long and 3 – 9cm wide
(USDA, 2008).
Siam weed (Chromoleana odorata) is a species of
flowering shrub in the sun flower family Asteraceae. It is native to
North America, from Florida and Texas to Mexico and the Caribbean and
has been introduced to tropical Asia, West Africa and parts of
Australia.
Medicinal plants have formed the basis of health care
throughout the world since the earliest days of humanity and still
widely used, and have considerable importance in international trade.
In
certain African countries for instance upto 90% of the population still
relies exclusively on plant as source of medicine (WHO 2002).
(Gamaniel
and Akah 2006) reported that the leaf extract of Bridelia ferruginea
contain five phyto chemical compounds including alkaloids, saponin,
tannins, flavonoids and glycoside and suggested possible varied
pharmacological effects.
As a consequence the World Health
Organization (WHO)recommended that the use of leaves extract should be
further investigated into, particularly as related to chronic and
delitation disease such as diabetic mellitus (WHO 2002).
Very
little attention has be given to the use of leaf extract in animal
production in Nigeria. Based on the above, the present research work was
conducted to determine the effects using water extracts of bitter leaf
(Vernonia amygdalina), siam weed (Chromolina odorata), scent leaf
(Ocimum grattisimum), and bridelia (Bridelia ferruginea) leaf water
extract on the performance of broiler finisher and on some blood
parameter.
1.1Objective of the Study.
The objective of the study was to;
determine
the effect of leaf extracts of bitter leaf ,scent leaf ,awolowo leaf
and bridelia leaf on the performance of broiler finisher such as feed
intake, weight gain and feed to gain ratio.
determine the effect
of leaf extract of bitter leaf, scent leaf,siam weed, and bridelia leaf
on some blood parameters such as pcv, neutrophils, lymphocytes,
cholesterol’ glucose, triglyceride.