Productive Performance, Caeca Microbial Population and Immune-Modulatory Activity of Broiler Chicks Fed Different Levels Sida Acuta Leaf Extract in Replacement of Antibiotics

The aim of the present study was to examine the productive performance, caeca microbial population and immune-modulatory activity of broiler chicks fed different levels Sida acuta leaf extract (SAL) in replacement of antibiotics. A total of 375 one-day old broiler chicks (Ross 307) were allotted to five treatments with five replicates consisting of 15 birds each in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for 56 days during which feed and water were given ad libitum. Basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements for birds according to NRC (1994) and all other management practices were strictly observed. Birds in treatment 1 (T1) were fed basal diet with 0 % administration of ciprofloxacin, T2 were fed a basal diet plus administration of 0.2ml of ciprofloxacin/liter of water while T3, T4 and T5 were fed Sida acuta leaf extract (SAL) at 20ml, 40ml and 60 ml per liter of water to replace ciprofloxacin as antibiotics. Result obtained revealed that weight gain, average daily weight gain (ADWG) and feed: gain ratio were significantly (P˂0.05) influenced among the treatments. Highest mortality was recorded in T1 (15.1 %) followed by T2 (10.0 %) none were recorded in the other treatments (P˂0.05). Average daily feed and water intake were not significantly (P˃0.05) different among the treatments. Antibody titres against Newcastle and Gumbro disease were significantly (P˂0.05) different among the treatments. Birds fed SAL had the highest values of antibodies making them resistant against diseases. Similarly, caecal microbial population revealed that E.coli population decreases in T3, T4 and T5 as the level of SAL increases among the treatments. However, lactobacilli populations were highest in T3, T4 and T5, intermediate in T2 and lowest in T1 ((P˂0.05). It was concluded that SAL is loaded with several bioactive compounds can be used to bridge the gap between food safety and livestock production and its oral administration at 20 ml/ liter of water had no deleterious effect on the performance and health status of broiler chicks.