Evaluation of Justicia secunda as broiler phytogenic growth promoter

Objective: Aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Justicia secunda (Vahl) were studied for application as growth stimulants in broilers. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight (288) day-old-broilers (Ross 308) (48 ± 1 g) were purchased, randomly grouped into 9 treatments with 4 replicate pens containing 8 birds per pen. Treatments applied to the groups include basal diet, basal diet plus 0.75 g/kg aqueous leaf-extract/kg feed, basal diet plus 0.5 g/kg aqueous leaf-extract/kg feed, basal diet plus 0.25 g/kg aqueous leaf-extract/kg feed, basal diet plus 0.75 g/kg ethanol leaf-extract/kg feed, basal diet plus 0.5 g/kg ethanol leaf-extract/kg feed, basal diet plus 0.25 g/kg ethanol leaf-extract/kg feed, basal diet plus 0.5 g/kg Albiovit/kg feed, and basal diet plus 0.5 g/kg B-vit-extra/kg feed. The experiment lasted for 56 days. Growth performance, serum biochemistry, and carcass yields of the broilers were verified by standard methods. Results: Results indicated that broilers given diets containing the extracts showed a marked increase in growth performance from 28 days. At 28, 42, and 56 d of age, broilers that received an inclusion of 0.75 g aqueous extract had the highest body weight of 886.7±17.96, 1859.1±16.83, and 2920±28.28, respectively, compared with the other groups. In contrast, the broilers that received only a basal diet had the lowest body weight. Conclusion: These results suggest that J. secunda leaf extracts can replace chemical growth stimulants, although the effects of the aqueous extracts were more significant on the broilers compared to the ethanol extracts.