Table 3.

Effect of aqueous extract of H. rhamnoides on growth performance of broiler chickens.

Treatments
Parameters	Control	T1	T2	T3	T4	T5	T6
Initial average body weight (gm/chick)	38.86 ± 0.60	39.60 ± 0.58	39.93 ± 0.57	38.20 ± 0.52	38.53 ± 0.58	38.20 ± 0.51	39.33 ± 0.54
Average weight at 21 day (gm/chick)	192.80a ± 3.50	194.26a ± 1.97	192.46a ± 3.45	222.13b ± 5.26	190.26a ± 3.82	189.20a ± 5.99	191.06a ± 8.41
Average weight at 42 day (gm/chick)	356.75a ± 10.06	410.70b ± 10.38	402.53b ± 12.32	470.33c ± 12.68	394.26b ± 6.69	409.20b ± 6.78	392.14b ± 5.55
Cumulative feed intake up to 42 day (gm/chick)	1519.20 ± 9.65	1521.08 ± 9.54	1520.37 ± 8.70	1530.27 ± 14.59	1544.58 ± 16.48	1518.62 ± 11.63	1527.50 ± 11.39
Feed conversion ratio at 42 day	4.78d ± 0.08	4.10b ± 0.06	4.19b,c ± 0.02	3.54a ± 0.08	4.34c ± 0.06	4.09b ± 0.05	4.33c ± 0.04
Cumulative water intake up to 42 day (ml/chick)	2138.76 ± 17.37	2140.71 ± 11.67	2145.69 ± 12.92	2140.39 ± 11.39	2155.02 ± 16.36	2150.71 ± 11.86	2155.43 ± 11.96

Chickens in the control group were fed the basal diet whereas the six treatment groups, in addition of basal diet received aqueous extract of H. rhamnoides in drinking water @ 100 mg/kg body weight of chicken (T1), @ 150 mg/kg body weight of chicken (T2), @ 200 mg/kg body weight of chicken (T3), @ 300 mg/kg body weight of chicken (T4), @ 400 mg/kg body weight of chicken (T5), and @ 800 mg/kg body weight of chicken (T6), respectively from days 0 to 42. Results are presented as mean ± S.E. Experimental unit 3 replicates pen (5 broiler chickens per replicate pen). Means bearing the different superscripts ^{(a, b, c, d)} in a row differ significantly (P < 0.05).