FECAL OOCSYT AND EGG COUNT OF BROILER BIRDS ADMINISTERED SPOTTED PUMPKIN (LAGENARIA BREVIFLORA) EXTRACTS

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of spotted pumpkin (Lagenaria breviflora) extract on fecal oocyst and egg count of broiler chicken. A total of One hundred and sixty (160) day old broiler chicks were used for the experiment. The birds were randomly allotted to four (4) treatment (T) groups having 40 birds per treatment which was further sub-divided into -10birds per replicate. The control groups (T1) were administered antibiotics while other groups were administered aqueous extract of Lagenaria breviflora at a dosage of 250g/liter (T2), 500g/liter (T3) and 750g/liter (T4) respectively for 5days. At the end of the experiment fecal sample analysis of broiler chickens was carried out using standard procedures. All data generated were subjected to one way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design using (SAS 2009). Results obtained showed significantly highest oocyst (1000cfu/g) was observed from the control groups compared to other dietary treatment groups administered aqueous extract of Lagenaria breviflora which recorded lowest or no oocyst count. Significantly higher egg per gram (17epg) was noticeable in the control groups and birds administered 750g/litre of the test ingredient while no egg per gram was recorded for birds administered 250 and 500g/litre of the test ingredient. Therefore, it can be concluded that aqueous extract of Lagenaria breviflora at 250, 500 and 750g/litre respectively contains bioactive substances capable of eradicating and suppressing oocsyt count while, Lagenaria breviflora aqueous extract at 250g/l and 500g/l is capable of eradicating Egg per gram in broiler chickens.