Protective effect of <i>Aloe vera</i> on growth performance, leucocyte count and intestinal injury in broiler chicken infected with coccidiosis
Zahoor Ahmad, Abdul Hafeez, Qudrat Ullah, Shabana Naz, Rifat Ullah Khan
Abstract
Groups were designated as a positive control (+C), negative control (−C), Amprolium (AM1), Aloe vera, 2.5 g/l water (AV2.5) and Aloe vera 5 g/l water (AV5) during the finisher phase. The experiment was conducted using 360 broiler chicks, which were divided into five different groups. Overall feed intake was significantly (P<.01) lower in Aloe vera supplemented groups. The overall weight gain was significantly (P<.01) higher in AV5 and AMI compared to –C. No significant difference was found in the feed conversion ratio between AMI and Aloe vera-treated birds. The caecal lesion, oocysts count and intestinal lesion were significantly (P<.01) reduced in Aloe vera-treated birds. The number of heterophils and total leucocyte count significantly (P<.01) decreased, while the number of monocytes and eosinophils increased (P<.01) in the treatment groups. From the results, it is also clear that the infection increased the monocytes and eosinophils and decreased the heterophils and TLC. In conclusion, the use of Aloe vera at the rate of 5 g/l of water produced encouraging results in broilers in comparison with Amprolium.