RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKS TO VARYING DIETARY LEVELS OF GONGRONEMALATIFOLIUM LEAF MEAL

Abstract

A four-week study was conducted to determine the response of starter broiler birds to varying dietary levels of Gongronema latifolium leaf meal (GLLM). Ninety-six (96) 14-day old unsexed commercial broiler chicks (Anak strain) were randomly divided into four treatment groups of 24 birds each in a completely randomizeddesign (CRD). The treatments received varying levels ofG. latifolium leaf meal (GLLM) per 25 kilogramme of a feed as follows: treatment 1 (T1), 0g; treatment 2 (T2), 100g; treatment 3 (T3), 150g and treatment 4 (T4), 200g. Each treatment was replicated two times with 12 birds per replicate. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the birds. Results indicated that significant (p<0.05) differences existed among treatments in the values of total weight gain , daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and feed cost per kg gain of birds fed dietary GLLM. However, there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in the final body weight of the starter broiler birds. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of GLLM had no adverse effect on growth performance of the starter broiler birds.