Growth and carcass yield of finishing broiler chickens fed lablab leaf meal

Abstract

The inclusion of lablab (Lablab purpureus) leaf meal (LLM) at 0, 50 and 100g/kg in finisher diets on broiler performance and carcass yields were evaluated in a 28-day feeding trial. Results showed that LLM in broiler finisher diets resulted in significant (P<0.05) increase in feed intake relative to the control diet. The control diet and 50LLM kg diet supported similar (P>0.05) final body weight and weight gain, but these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) depressed in broilers fed 100gLLM/kg diet. Feed conversion ratio became poorer with increase in level of LLM. Carcass yield was not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by dietary treatments. Cut-up parts as a percentage of dressed weight showed that thigh and drumstick had a non-significant decrease in weight while back and wing had a non-significant increase in level of dietary LLM. Breast, neck and abdominal fat pad were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increased LLM. Broilers fed 100gLLM/kg diet exhibited a significantly lower weight for liver, spleen, lung and heart in comparison with the control diet. Only the gizzard is significantly higher (P<0.05) in broilers fed LLM compared to the control diet (without LLM). It can be concluded that LLM inclusion at 100g/kg diet had a negative effect on performance but not on carcass parameters whereas LLM at 50g/kg diet gave comparable response with the control diet in all parameters measured.