GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH AFRICAN STAR APPLE (CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM) LEAF MEAL

Abstract

A six-week trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of African star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) leaf meal on the growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 250 Arbor Acres plus one day old chicks were allotted into five treatments (T) and five replicates in a completely randomized design. T1 served as Control with 0g/kg inclusion of African star apple leaf meal in the feed, T2, T3, T4, and T5 were diets containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0g/kg African star apple leaf meal as dietary additive respectively. Parameters were collected on feed intake, weight changes, and Feed conversion ratio was computed. Data obtained were subjected to ANOVA. The results of the study showed that there were significant (p<0.05) differences in the weights obtained at the starter phase, the average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were also significantly (p<0.05) different at the finisher phase. 0.5g/kg dietary supplementation of African star apple leaf meal gave the highest value (434.80g/b) for the final weight at the starter phase. The highest average daily weight of 52.08g/b/d was obtained in birds fed 2.0g/kg dietary supplementation of African star apple leaf meal. It was therefore concluded that broiler chickens could efficiently utilize African star apple leaf meal for improved growth at the finisher phase.