Effect of Graded Levels of Dietary Editan (Lasianthera africana) Leaf Meal on Productivity of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the dietary effect of Editan (Lasianthera africana) leaf meal (ELM) on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens.  One hundred and five (105) day-old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in a 56-day feeding trial. There were five dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) replicated three (3) times and each had seven (7) birds per replicate with a total of 21 birds per treatment in a completely randomized designed (CRD).T1 was the control diet which had no Editan leaf meal (0% ELM), T2 contained 1% Editan leaf meal, T3 contained 2% Editan leaf meal, T4 contained 3% Editan leaf meal and T5 contained 4% Editan leaf meal respectively. The Editan leaf meal was incorporated into starter and finisher diets. Feed and water were given ad libitum.  Results showed that at the starter phase diets had no significant (P>0.05) effect on all the parameters measured for growth performance. During the finisher phase, inclusion of Editan leaf meal up to 4% improved the final weight gain, total weight gain, daily weight gain, feed intake and feed gain ratio. Editan leaf meal up to 4% did not also show any negative effect on the breast, thigh wing, and drumstick and on the internal organs: gizzard, pancreas, heart, bile duct and large intestine. In conclusion, inclusion Editan N (Lasianthera Africana) leaf meal up to 4%at both the starter and finisher phases showed positive influence on productivity of broilers and recommended.

Keywords: Editan Leaf Meal; Growth performance; Internal Organs; Broiler Chickens

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-10-04

Publication date:May 31^st 2022