A Preliminary Investigation in Trinidad on the use of an Aloe barbadense pulp Extract in the Starter and Finishing Phases of Broiler Production

The purpose of this experiment was to carry out a preliminary comparison of growth rates, Feed Conversion efficiencies (FCR), Dressing percentages (DP) and from two batches of broilers reared under standard management practices except that to one batch only, Aloe vera (Aloe barbadense) pulp was added to the drinking water. Broiler weights via pen and pen X sex were subjected to ANOVA for the seven weeks of the trial During the second (P< 0.0001) and third (P < 0.05) weeks mean broiler weights for the aloes added water pen was significantly higher than that of broilers fed conventional feed only. In the third week the feed conversion efficiency (FCR) for the aloes added water pen was numerically lower (1.16) than that of the conventional feed (1.31). The dressing percentages of dressed carcass and taste characteristics were not different (P> 0.05) for the two diets. From preliminary observations, the use of aloe vera extracts could be a simple mechanism to reduce the cost of feeding of broilers in poultry production.