INFLUENCE OF BLACK PLUM LEAF MEAL ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF STARTER BROILER BIRDS

Abstract

A research workwas carried out to determine the influence of Black plum leaf meal on thegrowth performance and cost benefit analysis of starter broiler birds. Ninety-six (96) day old ‗Sayeed‘ broiler birds were used for the research work.The birds were brooded for a week after which they were randomly distributed into four treatment group of twenty-four each been replicated three times with eight birds per replicate. Four different diets were formulated such that the black plum leaf meal was incorporated into the diets at the rate of 2.00%, 4.00% and 6.00% respectively, while treatment 1 served as the control with 0% level of Black plum leaf meal. Feed and water were given ad-libitum throughout the experimental period of twenty-one days. Proximate composition of the Black plum leaf meal was carried out. Birds on control diet was superior to birds in other treatments in terms of final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, which was followed closely by those of birds in treatment 3 (4%bplm). Thus, birds in treatment 1 (control) had better performance compared to birds fed diets containing black plum seed meal. Result for cost benefit analysis showed that birds in treatment 3 had the highest (P<0.05)profit of #528.54 when compared to the other treatments under review. Thus, black plum leaf meal can be added into the diet of broiler starter birds up to a level of 6% without any detrimental effects on the birds‘ growth performance.