Growth Performance of Broiler Finisher Chickens Served Carrot (Daucuscarota L.) Leaf Extract as Supplementary Source of Vitamins and Minerals

Abstract

A 28 days feeding experiment involving 208 chicks of four weeks old Hubbard broiler strain was carried out in a completely Randomized Design to determine performance and indices of broiler finisher fed carrots leaves extract (CLE) as a supplementary sources of vitamins and minerals at four days interval. The birds were randomly assigned into four treatments group containing water only (control), water + 5 g vitalyte, Water +40 ml CLE, Water +80 ml CLE per litre of water coded as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Each group was replicated four times with fifty chicks per treatment. The leaves was found to be rich in ash (21.5%) most especially Ca, P, K, Mg, N and Na, vitamins (A,C and E) and relatively low in fibre hence a good vitamins and minerals supplement in the tropics as it encouraged feed intake and weight gain. Record of feed intake was recorded on daily basis while initial weights of the birds were taken at the beginning of the experiment and weekly thereafter. Body weight gain was calculated as the differences between the final and initial body weight gain. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Result showed significant effects (p<0.05) on body weight gained and total feed intake. Birds served 80 ml CLE per litre of water had the highest final body weight gained and total feed intake than any other treatment (p<0.05). It was recommended that poultry farmers can use carrot leaf extract at 80ml as a source of vitamins and minerals.