Scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) meal improved the growth performance and lowered blood cholesterol level of cockerels

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of scent leaf meal on the growth performance, blood and serum parameters of growing cockerels. A total of ninety-six (96) Isa-brown day-old cockerel chicks were used in a completely randomized design experiment. The birds were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments consisting of basal diets supplemented with scent leaf meal (SLM) at the rate of 0% (control), 1%, 2% and 3% representing T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The experiment lasted for 15 weeks including one week acclimatization period. Results showed that scent leaf meal improved feed intake only during the grower phase, but significantly improved body weight, FCR and PI at both chick and grower phases. Treatment had no effect on haematologic parameters but significantly reduced serum cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent manner. Other serum parameters were not affected by SLM treatment. Overall, inclusion of SLM in the diets of cockerels significantly improved growth performance of the birds, and dose-dependently reduced the blood cholesterol level without any deleterious effect on blood and serum parameters.