Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology

The ban on the use of antibiotics in the diets of livestock produced for human consumption has created awareness among consumers and thus triggered the need for natural and safe feed additives to achieve better production results from livestock; thus, promoting herbal sources (phytogenic extracts) as a replacement for antibiotics. The study aims to explore the effects of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and 4bac-extra probiotics pistia and 4bac-extra probiotics on the growth performance and economics of broiler chicken production. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) on growth performance and economics of production of broiler at the starter and finisher phase. Two hundred and seventy (270) day-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were utilized in nine treatments diets namely T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8 and T9 representing, T1 0% water lettuce + 0% probiotic, T2 and T3 0% water lettuce + 0.25% probiotic and 0% water lettuce + 0.50% probiotic respectively, T4 5% water lettuce + 0% probiotic. T5 and T6 5% water lettuce + 0.25% probiotic and 5% water lettuce + 0.50% probiotic, respectively. T7 10% water lettuce + 0% probiotic, T8 and T9 10% water lettuce + 0.25% probiotic and 10% water lettuce + 0.50% probiotic, respectively. The chicks were grouped into nine treatments of thirty chicks each in a factorial experimental design. Each group was further subdivided into three replicates of ten chicks per replicate in a factorial experiment using a Statistical Graphic Computer Package (SPSS, 2007) Model. Broiler chickens’ diets were compounded to be iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous (3000kcal/ME and 23%CP).  The results reveal a significant (P<0.05) difference in the effects of lettuce at 0%, 5% and 10% in the starter phase. Initial weight and final weight gain were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the effects of probiotics and the interaction with lettuce. Final weight at the starter phase of the probiotics at 0%, 5% and 10% supplementation levels were 1149.10g, 1275.90g and 1123.37g, respectively. For the interaction between the different levels of water lettuce and probiotics, the mean values obtained range from 1009.65g to 1357.80g. Feed intake values at the Finisher phase were significantly (P<0.05) affected by lettuce and probiotics inclusion as well as their interaction. Other parameters like FCR, survival percentage, unit cost and Performance Index were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. The interaction between lettuce and probiotics showed a significant (P<0.05) difference in weight gain, feed intake, FCR and performance index. The result for the economics of production indicated an increase in profit with an increase in supplementation levels of water lettuce. The results obtained for probiotic profits were N 425.36, N 423.72 and N 387.85 for 0%, 5% and 10% probiotic supplementation levels, respectively. Profit decreased as the probiotics level increased. It was concluded that supplementing broiler chicken diet with 10% and 5% water lettuce and probiotics inclusion, respectively, is hereby recommended for better economics of production with no adverse effects on their performance.