Preliminary Investigation of the Anti-cough Activities of the Aqueous Extract of Vernonia amygdalina Del leaf in Poultry Management.

The two respiratory diseases of birds in poultry management-catarrh and cough were treated with aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina. Palm kernel cake-mixed feed was fed to acclimatized broilers, and the feed induced catarrh and cough in these birds. The arrival and post-acclimatization weights of the birds were measured and recorded. However, keeping the other natural materials that are used in treating respiratory diseases in birds aside, these birds was fed with hybrid feed according to their weights. An amount, 800 grammes of Vernonia amygdalina leaf were mashed with water (concoction) and the first-time mixture was administered to the coughing birds. It was observed that groups 2,3,4 and 5, that were given different weights by volumes (w/v) of animal/extract of 50/10, 100/16, 150/21, and 200/28 showed a reduction in the number of bouts of cough to the degree of 1,2, 2, and 1 respectively. However, this shows that the concoction of Vernonia amygdalina contains anti-cough agent that clears the respiratory airways of birds. The degree of airways clearance was found to be cocoction-concentration.