Abstract

The misused of antibiotics in broiler chicken production has led to the ban of antibiotics. These have led to the finding of alternative antibiotic sources from plants such as Vernonia hymenolepis, in bid to tap from its antimicrobial capabilities. A preliminary phase of the research was conducted to determine the water to feed ratio, the temperature and pH, which will permit optimum fermentation.

While in the second phase, 231 unsexed Ross 308 chicks were divided into seven groups (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, and T7) of 33 birds and three replicates in pens equipped with feeders, and drinkers. The controls (T1, T2, and T3) were the: normal control, positive control, and negative control respectively. The test treatments received feed fermented with four selections of Vernonia hymenolepis: T4 (green stem bitter), T5 (green stem sweet), T6 (purple stem bitter), and T7 (purple stem sweet). The feed intake, water intake, mortality, live body weight and serum biochemistry were recorded to evaluate the growth parameters and serum biochemistry respectively.

At the end of the experiment, carcass characteristics were also evaluated. The result obtained showed that: optimum fermentation is appropriate at water to feed ratio of 3.4: 1, temperature of 32◦C and a pH of 5. Fermenting feed using Vernonia hymenolepis washed water could increase the amount of saccharomyces cereviseai population leading to yeast fermentation, and as a result reduce the population of E.coli during fermentation. Additionally, the feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield and weight gain were higher significantly (p<0.05) in (T6). In conclusion, purple bitter Vernonia hymenolepis wash water can be used to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria during feed fermentation and to enhance the growth performance of the broiler chickens by small holder farmers.

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