Abstract
The effects of dietary levels of olive leaves extract (0, 1.8, 3.6 and 6.25 g Oleuropein (OLE)/kg) on the performance (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) from 1-35 days of age, nutrient utilization (apparent nitrogen retention and corrected nitrogen apparent metabolizable energy between 18 and 21 days of age, Small Intestine (SI) measurements (weight, length and weight/length (thickness)) at 21 and 36 days of age and carcass characteristics at 36 day of age of broiler chickens were investigated. Dietary supplementation of OLE did not influence the performance at 35 day of age, nutrient utilization between 18 and 21 days of age, measurements of SI at 21 and 36 days of age, weights of eviscerated carcass and its components of thigh, drums, wings, breast and back as proportions of live weight. Chickens at 36 day of age had significantly (p<0.01) higher body and carcass weights and SI measurements than those of chickens at 21 day of age. The addition of 6.25 g OLE/kg diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced carcass abdominal fat when compared with those of the control diet. It was concluded that OLE supplementation with up to 6.25 g of broiler diets did not influence performance, nutrient utilization, SI measurements and weights of eviscerated carcass components but reduced abdominal fat of chickens.