Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus) Decoction as Growth Enhancer in the Drinking Water of Broilers

Abstract

The study were conducted to determine the growth response of broilers given lemon grass decoction as supplement in the drinking water of broilers in terms of final weight, gain in weight, feed consumption/water consumption, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate and profit above feed, medicine and stock cost of broilers for 35 days. Two-hundred head day old broiler chicks per study were distributed at random in five treatments replicated four times following the Tukeys’s (HSD) Test. The treatments used were: T0 –2.5 ml electrolytes (Control); T1- 2.5 ml; T2- 5.0 ml; T3- 7.5 ml; T4- 10 ml lemon grass decoction per li of water. Comparable performance was noted on feed conversion ratio, final and gain in weight, mortality rate, dressing percentage, percent leaf fat and profit above feed, medicine and stock cost of broilers as affected by different levels of lemon grass decoction. The supplementation of lemon grass decoction at a rate of 2.5 to 10 ml per liter of water in the drinking water can be used as substitute to electrolytes.