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