ABSTRACT

 This study was conducted to determine the effect of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and the beneficial inclusion level in broiler chicks coccidial infection. This study was carried out with Two Hundred and Fourty chicks for 3 weeks. The experimental design was a split plot. It was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The main-plot factors were fresh and dry basil while the sub-plot factors were different basil inclusion levels (0.0g basil/300g feed, 5g basil/300g feed, 10g basil/300g feed and 15g basil/300g feed). The sub-plot treatments were replicated thrice with 10 chicks I replicate. The sub-plot treatments were allotted 180 coccidia challenged chicks (for treatments 5, 10 and 15g basil/300g feed) and 60 uninfected and not treated chicks (for 0.0g basil/300g feed; which served as the control). The control had 10 chicks per replicate. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight changes, mortality, haemoglobin (HB), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), oocyst count and economy were taken and recorded. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight and mortality were nonsignificantly (P>0.05) different in the main plot (fresh and dry basil) and sub-plot (fresh and dry basil levels) treatments. Haemotological parameters HB, PCV, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC) and oocyst count showed non-significant (P>0.05) effects in the main plot. In the sub-plots, all were significantly (P<0.05) different except MCV and MCH that were non-significantly (P>0.05) different. There were non-significant (P>0.05) interactions between the main and sub-plot parameters except for oocyst count that was significantly (P<0.05) different. Economic analysis was numerically different in both the main and sub-plots. These results indicate that basil (Ocimum basilicum L) has non-significant (P>0.05) statistical effect on productive performance of broiler chicks but has significant (P<0.05) effect on coccidial infection. 25.8 x 104 of the control was the highest, followed by 11.4 x 104 of the chicks that received 5g basil/300g feed, 8.4 x 104 of chicks that received 10g basil/300g feed and 4.8 x 104 of chicks that received 15g basil/300g feed. Chicks that received 15g basil/300g feed had the least oocyst count. This study recommends a prophylatic dose of 5g fresh basil/300g feed or a curative dose of 15g basil I 300g feed in broiler chicks mash for prevention or treatment of coccidial infections.