EFFECTS OF FEEDING MINT LEAF (Mentha pulegium L.) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER

Abstract

The research was conducted to determine the effects of feeding mint leaf powder on the performance of broiler chicken. A total of 225 day-old Lohman meat broiler chicks were allocated randomly to five treatment groups with three replications having 15 birds per replication. There were five groups. e. g. T 0 (Basal feed), T 1 (Basal feed+Antibiotic), T 2 (Basal feed+1.0% mint leaf powder), T 3 (Basal feed+1.50% mint leaf powder) and T 4 (Basal feed+2.0% mint leaf powder). Result demonstrated that the body weight (g) was insignificantly (P>0.05) higher in T 2 (1965) and lowest in T 1 (1838.66). The body weight gain (g) was insignificantly (P>0.05) higher in T 2 (1923) than other groups including control group . Feed consumption (g) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T 3 (2489) than other groups including control group. The better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (P<0.05) observed in T 2 (1.20) group compared to other groups. Dressing percentage was insignificantly (P<0.05) higher in T 3 (70.25) and lower in T 0 (67.95). The weight (g) of liver, heart, spleen and gizzard in T 2 was significantly higher (P<0.05). The weight (g) of thigh, drumstick and back in T 2

were insignificantly (P>0.05) higher. Insignificantly (P>0.05) survivability rate (%) was better in all groups except T 4 . BCR is insignificantly higher (P>0.05) in treatment group T 2 (1.91) than control group (T 0 ). Average counts of E. coli and Salmonella sp. bacteria were insignificantly (P>0.05) lowest in T 3 (6.18) and T 4 (4.56) respectively. Significantly (P<0.05) more WBC was found in T 0 (14.60) and less in T 4 (1.20). But, T 2 (12.23) group was better result than others group. Significantly (P<0.05) the highest lymphocyte was found in T 4 (3.23) and lowest in T 3 (2.220). But, T 2 (2.68) treatment group has better result than other groups including control group. Significantly (P<0.05) the highest granulocyte was found in T 0 (11.73) and lowest in T 1 (3.55). But, T 2 (9.69) treatment group has better result than others group. Better result was found in T 2 (basal feed+1.0% mint leaf powder)

group than others including control group (T 0 ).