IMPACT OF COMBINATION OF PHYTOGENIC PLANT MATERIALS ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF STARTER BROILER BIRDS

Abstract

The research was carried out to determine the impact of combination of different levels of moringa leaf and black plum leaf meal on the growth performance of starter broiler birds. One hundred and twenty (120) day old "Ross 308 strains" broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, each replicated three times with eight birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Five diets were formulated such that diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained moringa leaf meal and black plum leaf meal at 5% inclusion level in the ratio 1:4, 2:3, 3:2 and 4:1. Feed and water were given ad-libitum throughout the research period of twenty-one days. Values obtained for final body weight was superior (P<0.05) in treatment 1 with 1321.90g, which did not differ (P>0.05) from 1283.09g in treatment 2, but was different from the values of 1202.86g and 1204.29g obtained in treatment 3 and 4. While, the least value of 1164.10g was observed in treatment 5. Body weight gain was superior (P<0.05) for birds in treatment 1 (1162.73g), while the least value of 1003.68g was obtained in treatment 5. Feed conversion ratio was superior in treatment 1(1.75) in terms of performance, From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the inclusion of moringa leaf meal and black plum leaf meal at 5% inclusion level and ratios 1:4, 2:3, 3:2 and 4:1 is viable at starter phase without any declining effect on the growth performance of the birds, with the best performance obtained in treatment 1 (control), respectively.