EFFECT OF FEEDING PAWPAW (Carica papaya) AQUEOUS EXTRACT AS REPLACEMENT TO ANTIBIOTICS USE ON HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN BROILER CHICKEN (Starter Phase)Poultry farming faces challenges from rising feed costs and concerns about anti

Abstract

Poultry farming faces challenges from rising feed costs and concerns about antibiotic use. This study investigated pawpaw (Carica papaya) leaf extract as a natural alternative to antibiotics in broiler production. Three hundred, day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments: control (T1) and pawpaw leaf extract at 20ml (T2), 40ml (T3), and 60ml (T4) per liter of drinking water. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with four replications per treatment. At day 21, blood samples were collected from selected birds for hematological and serum biochemical analysis. Broilers receiving pawpaw extract showed significantly higher (p<0.05) total protein (7.16-7.93 g/dL vs. 4.20 g/dL) and albumin (4.43-5.03 g/dL vs. 2.56 g/dL)  levels compared to the control group. Cholesterol levels were lowest in T4 (127.03 mg/dL) compared to control (163.83 mg/dL). Creatinine increased with extract dose, with T4 showing the highest value (1.88 mg/dL). Heamatological parameters remained within normal ranges across treatments, though Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration was significantly higher in the control group. The extract's antioxidant properties likely protected liver cells against oxidative damage, enabling more efficient protein synthesis while supporting immune function through improved globulin production. Pawpaw leaf extract significantly improved broiler serum protein profiles, suggesting enhanced metabolic efficiency and immune function. The 40ml/L dose (T3) is recommended for optimal health benefits without the potential renal stress observed at higher concentrations, providing a promising natural alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production.