EFFECT OF ORABOLIN (ETHYLESTRENOL) ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS IN THE HUMID TROPICS

An experiment was conducted with 150 Hyperco-broiler chicks of mixed s exes to study the effect of Orabolin on their growth rate. They were d istributed into five groups A, B, C, D and E of 30 birds each, and res pectively administered with Orabolin in feed at the following dosages per kilogram body weight: 1OO mu g, 50 mu lg, 25 mu g, 12.5 mu g and O .OO mu g. The experiment was terminated at seven weeks. All the test-g roups had signficantly higher body weights (P<O.05) than the control g roup. Financial input/output accruing from Orabolin showed that it cos ts US $O.005 to add extra US $0.066 value of neat. Consequently Ora bo lin has been recommended at 12.5 mu g/kg dosage as a growth promoter f or broilers.