Response of birds to aqueous administration of spotted pumpkin extract.

This study was conducted to evaluate growth response, lipoprotein content of blood, liver and kidney indices and humoral response of pullet administered aqueous extracts of Lagenaria breviflora Robert. A total of ninety (90) fourteen (14) days old Yaffa brown chicks were used for this experiment. The birds were randomly allotted into three (3) treatment groups, containing three (3) replicates of ten (10) birds each. Aqueous Lagenaria breviflora extracts was administered at control (0), 100 and 150g/litre respectively. Aqueous of administration of Lagenaria breviflora Robert had no effect (P>0.05) on growth indices (final weight, weigh gain, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio) considered. High density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly (P<0.05) influenced in 100 and 150g/litre groups only at 16 weeks of age. Liver indices (Alanine Aminotransferase and Aspartate Aminotransferase) were (P<0.05) highest in birds administered 150g/litre group while the serum calcium content was highest in 100g group at 16 and 8weeks of age respectively. The highest antibody titre value was observed at 100g/litre and 150g/litre Lagenaria breviflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]