EFFECT OF DIETARY QUERCETIN ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This research work was carried out to ascertain the effects of dietary quercetin on growth performance of broiler birds at different levels of inclusion. A total of 150 14-day old Arbor Acres broiler birds were randomly divided into five treatment groups in a complete randomized designed (CRD) with thirty birds each. Each treatment had three replicates with 10 broiler birds. The treatments include: (T1 = 0.0mL, T2 = 0.1mL, T3 = 0.3mL, T4 = 0.5mL of quercetin/kg diet, and T5= 1g oxytetracycline) per kg of feed. Parameters measured and determined were growth parameters. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) while significant means were separated using Duncan new multiple range test. Birds on treatment 4 fed 0.5mL/kg of feed had the highest value of final body weight (FBW) 3998.00g, total weight gain (TWG) 3583.67g and average daily weight gain (ADWG) 85.33g with improved FCR of 1.68 and least feed cost per kg weight gain of N571.20 than other treated groups. Dietary quercetin supplementation in this experiment has shown to improve growth performance of broilers birds especially at 0.5mL quercetin/kg inclusion level.