Abstract

Background:
Ketapang (Terminalia catappa Linn.) leaves contain bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, which act as antioxidants, antimicrobials, and immunostimulants. These compounds may serve as an ecofriendly alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broilers. Previous studies focused mainly on growth, leaving a gap in additional growth indices and hematological assessments.

Aim:
This study evaluated the effects of 5%, 10%, and 15% Ketapang leaves (KL) extract administered orally as a supplement (w/v of dosing solution) on growth performance [percent daily gain, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival rate] and blood parameters (erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentration) in broilers.

Methods:
Twenty male broilers (21 days old, n = 5 per group) were assigned to four groups: control (P0) and KL extract doses of 5% (P1), 10% (P2), and 15% (P3) orally for 14 days. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s honest significant difference post-hoc test.

Results:
The KL extract significantly (p < 0.05) improved the measured growth and hematological parameters, with highly significant effects observed for weight gain, FCR, erythrocyte count, and hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.01). The FCR values were 1.78 (P0), 1.61 (P1), 1.52 (P2), and 1.67 (P3). The weight gain increased by 14%, 18%, and 10% for P1, P2, and P3, respectively, relative to the control. Erythrocyte counts increased from 2.22 × 10⁶/mm³ (P0) to 2.50 × 10⁶/mm³ (P1), 2.96 × 10⁶/mm³ (P2), and 2.37 × 10⁶/mm³ (P3), while hemoglobin increased from 7.28 g/dl (P0) to 8.07 g/dl (P1), 9.05 g/dl (P2), and 7.87 g/dl (P3). Regression and correlation analyses confirmed that 10% KL extract (P2) was the optimal dose.

Conclusion:
The 10% KL extract was well tolerated under the conditions of this short-term 14-day study and was associated with improved growth performance and hematological parameters. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended observation periods are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of this drug.

Key words: Blood; Broiler; Feed additive; Performance of chicken; Terminalia cantata Linn.