Growth Assessment of Broiler Chickens Given Bitter Leaves (Vernonia amygdalina) as Phyto-additive, Potentially Antimicrobial Agents of Lipids and Amino Acids

This research was conducted to evaluate the growth of broiler chickens given bitter leaves (Vernonia amygdalina) in the drink as phytoadditive, potentially antimicrobial agents of lipids and amino acids. Amino acids of bitter leaves were analyzed by HPLC method, the fatty acid and fat content of bitter leaves were analyzed by A.O.A.C. Official Methods 2012. Antibacterial analysis of bitter leaves was prepared in three concentrations (2.5%, 5% and 10%), and analyzed with disc diffusion method. A total of 200 D.O.C. broiler chicks were treated under a standard broiler management program until 7 days of age. The experiment was conducted as 4x5 completely randomized arrangement. The experiment lasted 28 days from. Bitter leaves juice was blended and given to broilers through drinking water in four kinds of treatment: 0, 10, 20 and 30 ml/L drinking water. All chickens were fed diet contain 70% commercial feed, 27% broken corn and 3% coconut oil and given ad libitum. Results showed that the bitter leaves contain high linolenic, linoleic and palmitic fatty acid, and phenylalanine, serine, isoleucine, glycine and arginine amino acids. Bitter leaves showed the power of antibacterial activity for S. aureus. Bitter leaves as feed additives in drinking water of broiler caused feed intake and carcass percentage were non significantly different. Final weight, WG, SGR, GE, FCR were highly significantly increased. Abdominal fat was highly significantly decreased, and there was no effect on the giblet. It can be concluded that bitter leaf can be used as phytoaddive in broiler diet.