Abstract
<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The influence of <em>Ocimum gratissimum</em> leaf supplementation on feed intake; weight change via growth performance of Wistar rats was investigated.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A total of twenty (20) rats (average weight of 80 g±10 g), housed in a well-ventilated cages and given feed and water <em>ad libitum</em> for 2 weeks after which they were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments comprising 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 10%, of powdered stored <em>Ocimum gratissimum </em>leaf inclusion. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Group of rats fed with the lowest supplementation (2.5%) of <em>Ocimum gratissimum </em>showed significant increase (P&lt; 0.05) in weekly feed intake than group fed with the highest supplementation (10%). While, there was no significant difference (P &gt;0.05) between the groups fed with 0% and 5%. Also, the weight gain by the rats with 2.5% <em>Ocimum gratissimum</em> diet supplementation had highest weight gain which was significantly different to 10% supplementation and non-significantly different to 5% supplementation. Animals which received 2.5% of leaf of <em>Ocimum gratissimum</em> had the fastest growth rate, followed by those that received 5% and 10%. However, the control feed had higher body weight gain than 10% supplementation. The observable increase in the feed intake, weight gain and feed efficiency seen in the lowest supplementation level (2.5%) can be attributed to the spicing and seasoning of food with <em>O</em>. <em>gratissimum</em> and as such could also increase the palatability of the food. Furthermore, 2.5% has the highest dietary lipid which increases the palatability of food by absorbing and retaining flavor.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> It can be concluded that 2.5% <em>O. gratissimum </em>supplementation has a better palatability than other experimental diets which reflected on the performance characteristics of this treatment. </p>
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