EFFECT OF LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA SEEDMEAL ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FROM FIVE TO TWELVE WEEKS OF AGE.

Abstract

One hundred and twenty 5-week old Shaver Cross broiler chickens were randomly distributed to four dietary treatments in which Leucaena leucocephala seed meal (LSM) replaced groundnut cake at levels of 0, 5, 10 and 20% for an eight week period. Control and 20% LSM diets significantly (P<0.05) increased mean feed intake during the finisher phase. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of birds on 20% LSM was significantly (P<0.05) lower than FCR of those on the rest of the treatments during the grower phase, while in the finisher period, broilers on 0 and 20% LSM had significantly (P<0.05) lower FCR than birds on Sand 10% LSM; the 10% LSM, however, induced significantly (P <0.05) higher FCR than 5% LSM during the same period. Average weight gains and mortality showed no significant treatment effects throughout the period of study. There were significant (P<0.05) differences between treatments meant for dressed carcass percentage, liver, kidney, intestine and gizzard weights as percentage liveweight. Based on the data obtained in this study, LSM should not be included in broilers' diets at levels more than 10% of the groundnut cake.