Fasanmi Olubunmi Gabriel.; Sch J Agric Vet Sci 2014; 1(3):137-142. Available Online: http://saspjournals.com/sjavs 137 Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences e-ISSN 2348–1854 Sch J Agric Vet Sci 2014; 1(3):137-142 p-ISSN 2348–8883 ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publishers (SAS Publishers) (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) Comparing the Phytobiotic effects of feed-grade and liquid Oregostim® on Performance characteristics, Haematology and Serum biochemistry of Finisher broilers Dr. Fasanmi Olubunmi Gabriel (DVM, MVPH, Cert. Immunol) Federal College of Animal Health &Prod. Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author Name: Dr. Fasanmi Olubunmi Gabriel Email: bumaetal@gmail.com Abstract: The phytobiotic effects of feed-grade and liquid Oregostim were evaluated and compared on the performance characteristics, haematology and serum biochemistry of finisher broilers. 180 Marshal Broilers at 4wks were allotted into three treatments, T 0 (control), T 1 (3g/10kg feed-grade) and T 2 (3ml/10ltrs liquid), each was replicated thrice, with each replicate having 20 birds. Feed and water were given ad libitum, the feeding trial was for 4wks. The live BW for T 1 (1.73kg) is not significantly (p>0.05) different from T 2 (1.70kg), but T 1 and T 2 are greater than T 0 (1.52kg). The BWG, FCR and mortality % for broilers in T 1 and T 2 are significantly (p<0.05) superior to broilers in T 0 (control). The PCV for T 1 (24.33 ± 2.33) is not significantly (p>0.05) different from T 2 (23.30 ± 3.79), both are significantly (p<0.05) greater than T 0 (21.33 ± 3.28), the [Hb] and MCV are also the same for T 1 and T 2, but are significantly (p<0.05) greater than T 0 .There are no significant (p>0.05) differences among all the other parameters of performance characteristics (FI), haematological (RBC, WBC, MCV) and all serum biochemical indices across the treatments. Either feed-grade Oregostim (3g/10kg feed) or liquid Oregostim (3ml/10 ltr water) is recommended for use in finisher Broilers. Keywords: Feed-grade Oregostim, liquid Oregostim, Performance characteristics, Haematology, Serum biochemistry, Finisher Broiler INTRODUCTION Consumers today take a lot of interest in how their food is raised, whether their concerns have scientific merit or if they are simply responding to a story they read in a newspaper, we know they are worried about drugs in animal feed. Broiler producers therefore today need to be sensitive to consumer demands. Despite the ban placed on the use of antibiotics growth promoters and other additives, statistics of late continues to show a drastic increase in the use of in- feed antimicrobials for therapeutic purpose, even though there is a significant reduction in the usage of antibiotic growth promoters [1]. Frequent outbreaks of poultry infections due to resistant bacterial strains in field settings occurred and claims regarding the hazards of multiple resistance to antibiotics used in humans and animal medicine increased due to indiscriminate use of commercial antimicrobial drugs or chemicals commonly used in the treatment of infectious diseases or as feed additives [2, 3], many studies have recently been undertaken investigating the use of Novel yet promising natural feed additives, such as organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, plant extracts, enzymes and essential oils [4]. Herbs, spices and various plant extracts have received increased attention as possible replacements for antibiotic growth promoters [5, 6]. Considerable effort has also been devoted to essential oils which are the products which are obtained from natural and aromatic plants by steam distillation. Some essential oils obtained from different sources were used in broiler diets to determine the effects on growth performance, digestibility and digestive systems [7-10]. Several researchers showed that the supplementation of some essential oils increased the live weight [11] and improved feed conversion ratio[12- 15]. Oregostim is a phytobiotic, 100% natural feed or drinkin water additive containing Oreganum aetheroleum as an active substance, which is an oregano-etheric oil, which has widespread antibacterial activities [16], an anti-oxidizing, appetizing and growth enhancing properties [17, 18]. Oregostim stimulates the animal sense of appetite to increase feed intake, it also cleanses and replenishes the gut lining to improve the overall health of the animal, by rejuvenation of the absorbent gut surface [1].