Effect of Aloe vera Gel Extract (Aloe barbadensis Miller) on Growth Performance of Broiler Starters and Finishers

Abstract

This study evaluated graded dietary Aloe vera gel extract (AVGE; Aloe barbadensis Miller) supplementation on the growth performance of broiler chickens during the starter and finisher phases. A total of 105 day-old Arbor Acre chicks were allocated to five treatments in a completely randomised design, with three replicates of seven birds per treatment. The control treatment received the conventional farm drug and vaccination programme, whereas AVGE treatments received 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 mL AVGE/kg feed. AVGE was administered at 3-day intervals; the AVGE groups received the initial vaccination at 7 days of age but did not receive subsequent routine drug treatment. The experiment lasted six weeks. Data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance, and significant treatment means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test at P < 0.05. During the starter phase, final body weight, body-weight gain, average daily gain, feed intake, and water intake differed among treatments, whereas no significant difference in feed conversion ratio (FCR) was reported. Treatment 5 (2.5 mL/kg) had the highest final body weight (1074.63 g/bird), body-weight gain (1035.03 g/bird), and average daily gain (49.29 g/bird), with a numerically lower FCR (1.28). During the finisher phase, final body weight, body-weight gain, average daily gain, feed intake, and FCR differed among treatments; Treatment 5 recorded the highest final body weight (3150.26 g/bird) and body-weight gain (2075.63 g/bird) and the lowest FCR (1.93). Under the conditions of this trial, 2.5 mL AVGE/kg feed produced the best growth performance among the tested inclusion levels. Because this was the highest tested dose and the control and AVGE groups differed in routine medication exposure, the findings support AVGE as a potentially useful phytogenic supplement but do not establish a definitive replacement for conventional health-management programmes.