PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF BROILER CHICKENS OFFERED OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT UNDER HOT HUMID TROPICAL CLIMATE

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effecis olive leaf extract (OLE) supplementation in the drinking water of broiler chickens under hot-humid tropical climate. Tivo hundred and forty Arbor acre broiler chickens were used for this experiment and were allotted to four treatment comprising of four replicates of 15 birds each. The birds were offered either 0, 5, 10 or 15ml OL per litre of water ina Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Rectal temperature (RT), haematological indices, serum chemistry and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. The data obiained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result obtained showed that OLE improved (P<0.05) the average rectal temperature, plasma MDA, blood glucose, globulin. It was concluded that inclusion of 1 5ml OLE in the drinking water enhanced the physiological response of broiler chickens during hot dry season.