The document summarizes a study on the comparative efficacy of different growth enhancers on broilers. 96 day-old broiler chicks were divided into 4 treatment groups: a control group given plain water, and groups given Atovi, aloe vera, or sorghum syrup supplements. Results showed no significant differences in weekly weight gain, feed consumption, or feed conversion ratio among treatments. The sorghum syrup group had the highest final weight, while the aloe vera group had the lowest. The Atovi group yielded the highest return on investment. In conclusion, using growth enhancers can increase profits compared to plain feed, though higher supplement concentrations may be needed to see effects.

1. Related Literature
COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT GROWTH ENHANCERS ON BROILERS DELMAR
T. MACAPIA , LAZARINE T. MAMAUAG & OLIVEROS M. VALIENTE1
ABSTRACT The study aimed to determine the efficacy of different
growth enhancers in broiler. A total of ninety six (96) day old
straight run cobb broiler chicks were used in the study. Complete
Randomized Block Design was employed with four treatments replicated
three (3) times. The treatments were as follows: TO-Plain water, T1-
Atovi, T2-Aloe Vera, T3-Sorghum Syrup. Result of the study revealed no
significant differences on the final weight of broilers with T3
obtaining the highest mean final weight of 1.93kgs. followed by T1, T2
and TO with mean final weights of 1.89 kgs.,1.65 kgs., and 1.58 kgs
respectively. Data analysis in feed consumption, growth rate and feed
conversion ratio showed no significant differences among treatment
means. Keywords : Growth Enhancer, Feed Conversion Ratio, Broiler,
Feed Consumption Introduction Poultry production is considered one of
the most common and very promising agricultural enterprises especially
for low income farm families. It offers several advantages to the
raisers. It is an efficient feed converter into poultry meat in only
35 days, giving a quick return of investment (ROI) that would allow 5-
6 production cycles in a year. Boiler production is a big industry. It
represents 85 percent of poultry meat that Filipinos consume.
Unfortunately, the demand for poultry and poultry by products continue
to rise as human population increases, resulting in the greater demand
for high quality ingredients to be used in mixed feeds. High quality
feeds usually means importation of major ingredients such as fish meal
and soybean meal. It is therefore desirable to source alternative ways
to enhance and hasten animal’s growth during these times of unstable
prices of feeds. The utilization of growth enhancers can best be
desired as nutrition based therapy and this has a positive effect on
the feed efficiency, weight gain, livability, high immune system and
other intestinal diseases. In view hereof, the study was conducted to
attest its efficiency on the growth performance of test animals.
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1 Student, Instructor II & Associate Professor IV, Provincial
Technical Institute of Agriculture-Isabela State University, Cabagan,
Isabela. 91 Objectives of the Study 1. To compare the efficiency of
the different growth enhancers in broilers. 2. To evaluate the cost
and return analysis of using the different growth enhancers. Review of
related Literature and Studies Diet containing probiotics
significantly increased average daily gain during the first week of
experimental feeding than the diet without probiotics. This is
according to Yeo and Kim (1991). Chung (2003) stated that vitamins

2. must be present in sufficient quantities in the diet to ensure
efficient utilization of carbohydrates, protein, fats, minerals, and
water for health and maintenance and production function such as
growth development and reproduction. B-Meg Poultry Raising Guide
(1975) cited that in the presence of stressful condition like the
movement of the birds, the presence of infection, sudden change of
weather and feeding practices, vaccination, deworming and debeaking
birds need to be supplemented with vitamins. Vitamins are most
commonly function as coenzymes and regulators of metabolism as stated
by Pakisan (2202). Anonymous (1995) stated that vitamins are needed to
maintain a large number of metabolic processes in the body and if any
of the vitamins are in short supply the growth and health of the body
is seriously affected. Premium Laboratories Handout (2004) reported
that PAV stress check vitamins and electrolytes aids in prevention or
correction of vitamins and electrolytes deficiencies in domestic
animals. Fronda (1972) said that using additives not only make the
production of broilers economical but also help in the control of
diseases that the broiler producers have to fight against. Gill (2001)
stated that researchers and practicing nutritionist recognize the
importance of diet to influence meat quality especially as it involves
vitamins and mineral status of the animal. Savena (1991) said that
poultry feeds that are commercially formulated may have 10-12
ingredients, two to three sources of minerals, and 10-15 sources of
micro-nutrients, vitamins and trace minerals, while the nutritional
aspects of feed formulation are becoming fully regulated, there are
several so-called nutritional factors which are having effect on the
poultry industry. 92 Chickens are particularly susceptible to vitamin
deficiencies, the reason for this are (1) the chicken derives little
or no benefit from microbial synthesis of vitamins in the
gastrointestinal tract, rather than synthesizing vitamins that may be
used by the host, the intestinal microorganism in the chicken compete
with the host for dietary; (2) chicken have high requirements for the
vitamins which are the spark plugs of the vital metabolic reactions in
the animal body. (3) high density concentration of modern poultry
farming places many stresses upon the chicken which may increase its
vitamin requirements. (T.W. Perry, et al.,2000). In the study of Buban
et. Al (2001) cited by Galang (2004) that the inclusion of growth
enhancers showed no significant increase in feed intake. The same
result was also obtained by Luis (2001). Bejar and Copa (2007) stated
in their study that aloe vera utilized as growth enhancers is safe for
animal intake. It further revealed that final weight and gain in
weight of broilers (5-10 ml) was enhanced compared to plain water.
Copa (2007) stated that no significant results were found in Feed
Conversion Ratio (FCR) of broiler although numerically those given
extracts showed slightly better FCR than those given plain water. On

3. the other hand, Jin et. al. (1998) expounded that broilers fed with
probiotics/growth enhancers up to 42 days had significant improvement
in body weight, feed and gain ratios than those broilers fed without
probiotics/growth enhancers. This coincides with results obtained by
Bernardo (1995) who compared the effects of giving probiotics alone
and in combination with antibiotics. The probiotics tested group had
higher mean body gain than the control group. The growth rate
pattern/curve obtained by Bernardo was similar to the findings of
Reyes (2004) where in the growth rate was observed to be higher during
the first two weeks and diminishes as chicken grows older. Methodology
A total of ninety –six (96) day old straight run Cobb broiler chicks
were used in the study and were distributed to three cages with a
dimension of 2.5m x 1.10m. Each cage was further subdivided into four
(4) cages for the different treatments with eight (8) birds per cage.
One week prior to the arrival of the chicks the cages were cleaned
thoroughly and disinfected with Biocid. The cages were provided with
electric bulb as heaters up to four weeks 93 of age and until their
feathers were fully developed. Likewise, feeding trough and plastic
waterers were provided for each cage. Research Design The study was
conducted using Complete Randomized Design with the following
treatments: TO – plain water, T1 – Atovi 20 ml – per 4 liters of
water, T2 – Alovera 20 ml – per 4 liters of water, and T3 – Sorghum
syrup 20 ml – per 4 liters of water. Care and Management On the first
week of feeding, chick booster feeds as spread on old sheets of
newspaper. For the rest of the feeding period, feeds were placed on
the feeding trough. Starter mash was given the second week up to the
fourth week of the feeding period. Feeding was done three (3x) a day
at 6:00 am, 11: a.m. and 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Growth
enhancers were mixed at the rate of 20 ml per 4 liters of water and
was made available at all times in each cage. All other management
practices such as hygiene and sanitation was followed strictly.
Results and Discussion Weekly Gain in Weight of birds in grams is
shown in Table I. Treatment I (Atovi) gave the highest mean of 303.54
grams. This was followed by Treatment 3 (Sorghum Syrup) and Treatment
3 (Alovera) with a mean of 282.43 grams and 269.79 grams,
respectively. Treatment 0 (Control) gave the lowest mean of 252.08
grams. This coincides with the findings of Chung (2003) which stated
that vitamins must be present in sufficient quantities in the diet to
ensure efficient utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
minerals and water for health and maintenance of birds. Statistical
analysis of variance indicated no significant differences among
treatment means. 94 Table 1. Weekly gain in Weight per bird in (grams)
Treatment Mean ns TO 252.08a T1 (Atovi) 303.54a T2 (Alovera) 269.79 a
T3 (Sorghum Syrup) 282.43a ns – Not significant. The feed consumption
of birds in kilograms is presented in Table 2. The highest feed

4. consumption among treatments was obtained by Treatment T3 (Sorghum
Syrup) with 4.70 kilograms, followed by Treatment TI (Atovi) 4.39
kilograms and Treatment TO (Control) with 4.12 kilograms respectively.
Treatment T2 (Aloe Vera) registered the lowest feed consumption of
4.06 kilograms. This coincides with the finding of Galang who reported
that inclusion of growth enhancers to broiler diets has no significant
effect on feed intake. The same result was reported by Luis (2001) in
his study. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences
among treatments means. Table 2. Feed Consumption per bird in
kilograms. Treatment Meanns TO (Control) 4.12 a T1 (Atovi) 4.39 a T2
(Aloevera) 4.06 a T3 (Sorghum Syrup) 4.70 a ns – Not significant The
feed conversion ratio of birds in kilograms is presented in Table 3.
The highest feed conversion ratio was obtained by Treatment TO
(Control) with a mean of 2.65 kilogram followed by Treatment TI
(Atovi) 2.70 kilogram, Treatment T2 (Aloevera) 2.74 kilogram
respectively. Treatment T3 (Sorghum Syrup) obtained the least mean
feed conversion ratio of 2.84 kilograms. The differences on feed
conversion ration conforms with findings of Colapo (2007) stated no
significant results were found in feed conversion ration (FCR) of
broiler although, numerically, those given extracts showed slightly
better FCR than those given plain water. 95 Table 3. Feed Conversion
ratio per bird in (kg) Treatment Meanns TO (Control) 2.65 a T1 (Atovi)
2.70 a T2 (Aloevera) 2.74 a T3 (Sorghum Syrup) 2.84 a ns – Not
significant The water consumption of bird in liter is presented in
Table 4. The highest water intake among treatments is Treatment T1
(Atovi) with 1.96 liters, followed by Treatment T2 (Aloe Vera) with
1.80 liters and Treatment T0 (Control) with 1.77 liters, respectively.
Treatment T3 (Sorghum Syrup) have the lowest water intake of 1.67
liters. Statistical analysis indicated no significant differences
among treatment means. Table 4. Water consumption per bird in (liter)
Treatment Meanns TO (Control) 1.77 a T1 (Atovi) 1.96 a T2 (Aloevera)
1.80 a T3 (Sorghum Syrup) 1.67 a ns – Not significant As presented in
Table 5 the final body weight of broilers showed that Treatment T3
(Sorghum syrup) obtained the highest mean body weight of 1.93 kgs.,
followed by Treatment T1 (Atovi) with a mean body weight of 1.89
kilograms and Treatment T2 (Aloe vera) with a mean body weight of 1.65
kilograms respectively. Treatment T3 (Control) gave the lowest mean
body weight of 1.58 kilograms. Results on final body weight coincide
with the findings of Yeo and Kim that diets containing
probiotics/growth enhancers significantly increased the weight of
broilers without probiotics. Table 5. Final body weight per bird in
(kg) Treatment Meanns TO (Control) 1.58 a T1 (Atovi) 1.89 a T2
(Aloevera) 1.65 a T3 (Sorghum Syrup) 1.93 a ns – Not significant 96 As
shown in Table 6, the return above feed cost revealed that Treatment
T1 (Atovi) obtained the highest return on investment with an ROI of

5. 35.33. The second highest ROI was obtained by Treatment T3 (Sorghum
syrup) followed by Treatment T2 (Aloe vera) with an ROI of 31.12 and
25.37 respectively. The lowest ROI was obtained by Treatment TO
(Control) with 18.97. Furthermore, the return on investment (ROI)
revealed that the use of growth enhancers are more economical compared
to commercial feeds. Table 6. Return above feed cost of the
experimental birds Treatment Computed Production Cost Total weight of
the birds Cost per kg. Liveweight Gross income Net Income ROI T0
(Control) 2718.48 38.05 85 3234.25 515.77 18.97 T1 (Atovi) 2854.56
45.45 85 3863.25 1008.69 35.33 T2 (Aloevera) 2688.24 39.65 85 3370.25
82.01 25.37 T3 (Sorghum syrup) 3010.80 46.45 85 3948.00 37.20 31.12
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation The study was conducted from
July to September 2007 at the PTIA laboratory farm, Isabela State
University, Cabagan, Isabela to test the efficiency of different
growth enhancers on broiler. The study made use of ninety six (96)
straight run day old Cobb broiler chicks. The birds were distributed
to four (4) treatments replicated three times with eight (8) birds per
treatment following the Complete Randomized Design. The treatments
used were as follows: T0 (Plain water), T1 (Atovi) 20 ml per liters of
water, T2 (Aloe vera) 20 ml per 4 liters of water and T3 (Sorghum
syrup) 20 ml per liter of water. The birds were fed with their
corresponding diets for six (6) weeks. The data gathered were analyzed
for weekly rate of growth, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio.
The study showed no significant differences on weekly rate of growth,
feed consumption, water consumption and feed conversion ratio.
Conclusion The following conclusions were drawn from the results of
the study. Utilization of growth enhancers reduced the cost incurred
thus enabling the raisers to increase the profitability 97 of the
enterprise. The cost of return above feed cost revealed that Treatment
T1 (Atovi) obtained the highest return on investment with an ROI of
35.33 the second highest ROI was obtained by Treatment T# (Sorghum
syrup) followed by Treatment T2 (Aloe vera) with an ROI of 31.12 and
25.37 respectively. The lowest ROI was obtained by Treatment T0
(Control) with 18.97. Furthermore, the Return On Investment (ROI)
revealed that the use of growth enhancers are economical compared to
commercial feeds. Recommendations Further study should be conducted
using growth enhancers with higher concentration to determine its
efficacy. BIBLIOGRAPHY Atheton, D. and S,