Supplemental Value of Scent (Ocimum gratissimum Linn) Leaf Meal on Growth Performance and Haemo-biochemical Response of Broiler-chickens

The growth performance and haemo-biochemical response of broiler-chickens (n=200) to dietary supplementation of scent leaf meal (SLM) was investigated in a 42-day feeding trial. Birds on Diet 1 had Ocimum gratissimum leaf meal (OGLM) at 0 g/100kg feed and served as the positive control, diet 2 had OGLM at 0 g/100kg feed with 250 mg/kg antibiotic, diet 3 had OGLM at 250 g/100kg feed, diet 4 had OGLM at 500 g/100kg feed, diet 5 had 750 g/100kg feed and diet 6 had OGLM at 1000g/100kg feed. Feed intake, growth rate and feed utilization were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced among birds fed the various test diets. Haemato-biochemical parameters such as packed cell volume, red blood counts, haemoglobin concentration, white blood counts, AST and ALT were influenced in broiler chickens fed dietary supplementation of OGLM. Supplementation of OGLM at 500-750 g/100kg diet was the optimal level as evidenced in growth while up to 1000 g/100kg feed in the haemato-biochemical parameters.