USING AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ALOE GEL AS ANTICOCCIDIAL AND IMMUNOSTIMULANT AGENT IN BROILER PRODUCTION

The effect of aqueous extract of aloe gel (10%w/v) on growth performance, antibody titer against ND, IB and IBD and faecal coccidial oocysts count following natural progression of coccidiosis in broilers reared at Peshawar was studied. One hundred and sixty, day old chicks were randomly allotted to four different groups, designated as A, B, C and D in an open sided house. Each group was replicated four times with ten chicks per replicate. Group A, B and C received aqueous extract of aloe gel (10%w/v) @ of 5, 10 and 15ml/liter of water and group D was kept control for 35 days. On day-21 of the experiment, all the chicks were inoculated with oocysts of different species of Emeria and in addition, oocysts were seeded in the litter. Water and feed intake, abdominal fat deposition and weight of breast, thigh gizzard, heart and liver of broilers given aloe extract in drinking water was not different among groups. Significantly higher body weight gain, dressed weight and lower feed conversion ratio was observed for broilers in group B. Significantly higher mortality (10%) was found in control group and. On the other hand, significantly higher coccidia oocysts’ count was found in the litter of group D as compared to group B and C on both day-28 and day-35 of the experimental period.