EFFECTS OF TULSI LEAF EXTRACT ON BODY WEIGHT GAIN IN BROILER PRODUCTION

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of tulsi leaf (Ocimum sanctum) extract supplementation in drinking water as a growth promoter in broiler chickens. A total of 40 Cobb-500 broiler chicks (day-old) were purchased from local hatchery (Nourish Poultry and Hatchery Ltd.). After seven days of acclimatization chicks were randomly divided into two groups, A (n=20) and B (n=20). The group A was kept as a control and not treated. The group B was supplemented with tulsi leaf extract with feed and water. Weekly observations were recorded for live body weight gain up to 5^th weeks and hematological tests were performed at 35^th days age of broiler to search for hematological changes between control (A) and treatment (B) groups. The initial body weight of groups A and B on 1st day of this experiment were 41.00±1.78 gm and 41.50±2.35 gm, respectively and after 35^th day of experiment final body weight were 1640± 74.83 gm and 1920± 33.91 gm, respectively and economics of production were analyzed and found that net profit per broiler was Tk. 21.46 and Tk. 32.29, respectively. The treatment group B was recorded statistically significant (at 1% level) increased (16.97%) for live body weight than that of control group A. The hematological parameters total erythrocyte count (TEC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) estimation value of treatment group shows significant difference, while hemoglobin (Hb) estimation does not show significant difference from control group. The results suggest that better growth performance could be achieved in broilers supplemented with tulsi leaf extract.