EFFECT OF SODIUM BUTYRATE AND ROSEMARY LEAF MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The effect of Sodium butyrate, Rosemary leaf meal and Oxytetracycline supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, visceral organs sizes and nutrient digestibility of broilers was investigated. A total of 192 one-day-old mixed sex ―Arbor acre strain‖ broiler chicks were allotted to 6
dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 8 birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD). The study lasted for eight weeks. The treatments include: T1= Basal diet (BD: Negative control), T2 = BD + 1g/Kg diet of Oxytetracycline (Positive control), T3= BD + 2g SB /kg diet, T4= BD + 4g SB/Kg diet, T5 = BD + 2.5g RM/kg diet and T6= BD +5.0g RM/kg diet. Birds fed T3, T4, and T5 had the highest (p<0.05) body weight with an improved feed conversion ratio. The dressed weight, breast weight and drumstick/thigh weight were better (p<0.05) for birds fed T3, T4 and T5. It was concluded that, T3, T4, and T5 can be safely included for an improved performance and cut yields.