Blood and carcass characteristics of two chicken strains subjected to Ocimum graticimum leaf based diet as substitute for synthetic antibiotics

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of graded levels of scent leaf meals on blood parameters and carcass characteristics among two broiler strains. A total of 150 unsexed broilers consisting of 75 Abor Acre and 75 Cobb were randomly allotted into 5 treatments of 15 birds for each strain. Treatment one (T1) had no scent leaf meal (control); treatment two (T2), treatment three (T3), treatment four (T4) and treatment five (T5) had 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% throughout the experimental period (56days). Blood samples and carcass characteristics were evaluated after the feeding trial and subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Results revealed that diets and strain significantly (P < 0.05) affected live weight, dressed weights, and dressing percentages. T3 had the highest live and dressed weight (2091.50 ± 85.27 g and 1737.67 ± 22.16 g), while T5 recorded the lowest (1700 ± 102.47 g and1253.17 ± 68.09 g). Cobb was superior to Arbor acre for all carcass traits except for leg weight. Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Count of the two strains were significantly (P < 0.05) different, while Pack Cell Volume, Haemoglobin, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinphils and Basophils were not significantly different (P > 0.05). This study revealed no detrimental effect of the test ingredients on birds, though 1.5% inclusion rate could be tolerated, 1.0% is recommended for optimum performance, and can therefore efficiently replace synthetic antibiotic in broiler production.