Effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract on growth performance, carcass characteristics of pullet and broiler birds

A six week experimental trial was conducted to determine “The effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extract on the growth performance, carcass characteristics of broilers and pullets birds”. The experiment was carried out at the poultry unit of the Teaching and Research Farm of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island Bayelsa state. Forty (40) day old chicks were used for the experiment comprising of two genotypes, twenty broilers and twenty pullets. Each genotype was divided into treatment and control. The treatment was administered 50ml V. amygdalina leaf extract was diluted into 1 litre of drinking water except the control group. The result showed significant difference (P<0.05) between the control group and the group administered V. amygdalina leaf extract as they were different in carcass, live weight, heart, liver and gizzard weight for broilers. The result also showed that the experimental group was significantly different (P<0.05) from the control group in lungs weight. However, the result showed no significant difference (P>0.05) for both kidney and spleen weights for both groups. The results also show no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control and treatment group of pullets. The study recommends that the use of V. amygdalina up to the level used in this study is suitable for broiler production. It can also be used to enhance performance at the growing phase of pullet’s birds.