Abstract

An experiment was conducted with one Hundred and five (105) day old Ross broilers chicks to determine the effect of Rhizophora racemosa leaf and root-bark on organs (teatis, ovary and bursa of Fabricus) weight on broilers. Using a 2x3 factorial arrangement, a completely randomized design was conducted. The birds were randomly allocated into seven treatment groups. A, B₁, B₂, B₃, C₁, C₂, and C₃ of 15 birds per group. All groups were replicated thrice with five birds. Pulverized R. racemosa leaf and root-bark were administered to the birds at graded levels of 70, 80 and 90 grames for both leaf and root-bark. The experiment lasted eleven weeks. Results obtained showed that R. racemosa significantly (P>0.05) increase the size of testis, ovary and bursa of Fabricus, in broilers. It was concluded that R. racemosa is a potent feed additive that can be used to develop the bird’s immunity as well as to improve the reproductive potency of parent broilers because of the increase in size of both testis and ovary which concomitantly means increase in testosterone, ovary and sexual activity.

Keywords: Broiler; Bursa of fabricus; Rhizophora racemose; Ovaries; Testis