Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of consumption of Rhizophora racemosa (Mangrove) incorporated feed on feed intake, body weight gain, and some visceral organs of broiler chicks. Sixty day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups, A, B, C and D of 15 birds per group and 5 birds per replicate. The dosages of the groups were 0 (control), 10, 20 and 30 g per kilogram of feed, respectively. Results obtained showed that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the treatment means with respect to feed consumption/efficiency, and body weight gain. However, a lineal body weight gain was observed. There was obvious hypertrophy of the bursa of Fabricus of groups B, C, and D, indicative of defensive reaction to R. racemosa (foreign body) and increase of antibody production. The observed atrophy of the ovaries and the converse hypertrophy of the testes are analogous to decreased ovarian and increased testicular functions, respectively.

Key words: Mangrove, feed intake, weight gain, visceral organs, broilers.