Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Leaf Powders as Replacement for Synthetic Premix in Hot Tropical Environment

Abstract

A total of one hundred and eighty (180) two weeks old broiler chickens were used for 49 days feeding trial to investigate the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) and baobab (Adansonia digitata) leaf powder (BLP) as replacement for commercial premix on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Six (6) experimental diets were formulated and designated as T₁ which contained (0.30% synthetic premix), T₂ (0.15% synthetic premix +0.15% MOLP), T₃ (0.15 synthetic premix + 0.15% BLP), T₄ (0.15% MOLP + 0.15% BLP), T₅ (0.30% MOLP), T₆ (0.30% BLP). The chickens were randomly allotted to the six treatments with 30 chickens per treatment which were replicated thrice with 10 chickens per replicate in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Results obtained showed that, final live weight, total weight gain, total feed intake were significantly (P<0.05) different among treatment groups with the exception of feed conversion ratio. Carcass and organ weights showed no significant (P>0.05) differences among the treatment groups. It may be concluded that MOLP and BLP can completely be used to replace synthetic premix without adverse effects on growth performance and carcass parameters of broiler chickens.