EFFECT OF BITTER LEAF (VERNONIA AMYGDALINA) SUPPLEMENTED FEED ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND HAEMOTOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The high cost of poultry feed in developing countries continues to challenge efficient poultry
production, driving the search for alternative, affordable feed sources. This study evaluated the
effects of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) supplemented feed on the growth performance and
haematological parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 10 Agrited broiler chicks were divided
into two treatment groups: one fed a diet containing 10% Vernonia amygdalina and 90% corn
pulp (experimental diet, ED), and the other fed 100% commercial feed (control diet, CD) for a
period of four weeks. The proximate composition analysis revealed that the control diet had a
higher crude protein (20.50%) compared to the experimental diet (9.81%). The results indicated
that broiler chickens fed the experimental diet exhibited a significant reduction in total weight
gain, feed conversion ratio, and several haematological parameters, including packed cell volume
(PCV), haemoglobin, and red blood cell (RBC) count, compared to the control group. However,
no significant changes were observed in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular
haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and basophils. These findings suggest that while Vernonia
amygdalina may offer some nutritional and medicinal benefits, its use as a feed supplement in the
tested ratio in this study may not improve the growth performance of broilers. Further research is
recommended to optimize the supplementation level for better outcomes.
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