GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND GUT MICROBES OF BROILER CHICKENS FED XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA AND SIDA ACUTA AS AN ADDITIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate the growth performance of broiler chicks fed varying levels of Sida acuta and Xylopia aethiopica leaf meal (SXLM). A total of 144 day old broiler chicks (Ross) were allotted to four treatments with four replicates consisting of 12 birds each in a completely randomized design and the experiment lasted for 48 days. Broilers in treatment 1 were fed diet with no SXLM (Control), T2 were fed diet containing 1g of SXLM per kg of feed, T3 were fed diet containing 2g of SXLM per kg of feed and T4 were fed diet containing 3g of SXLM per kg of feed. The daily feed intake and body weight were weighed and used to evaluate the growth performance. Data obtained on growth performance was subjected to one way analysis of variance using SPSS version 25 and significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Result obtained revealed that there were no significant (p>0.05) effect on the growth performance except the average total feed intake and average daily feed intake. The additive helps to reduce the quantity of feed utilized by the broiler to gain one kg. That showed a reduction in the cost of feed used by the broiler to gain one kg weight. In summary, available evidence indicates that SXLM may have the ability to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens. It was concluded that SXLM has antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can be used improve livestock production.