Nutritional utilization of baobab (Adansonia digitata) leaf meal on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens in Sudan savannah of Nigeria

Abstract

 This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary utilization of baobab leaf meal (BLM) on performance, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of broiler chickens. Two hundred and twenty-five (225), one day old broiler chickens (Marshall Breed) were used for the study. Five diets were formulated containing baobab leaf meal (BLM) at dietary levels of 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Chicks were randomly allotted to treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) and each treatment was replicated three times consisting of 45 broiler chickens with 15 chicks per replication. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Sample of BLM, experimental diet and faeces were analyzed for proximate compositions. Similarly, levels of anti-nutritional factors in BLM were also evaluated. The results at starter phase showed that the final body weight, daily weight gain and total weight gain were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 7.5% BLM diet compared to other treatments. The feed conversion ratio (3.30) and feed cost in naira per Kg gain (N257) were significantly (P< 0.05) better at 7.5% BLM diet compared to others. The same trend was observed at finisher phase in the final body weight (2147.80g) and daily weight gain (52.39g). Similarly, feed conversion ratio (3.14) and feed cost in naira per Kg gain (N289.89) were significantly (P< 0.05) better at 7.5% BLM diet compared to other treatments. The results for carcass analysis showed that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in final live weight (2.15 Kg) as broiler chickens fed 7.5% BLM diet had significantly (P< 0.05) highest values of carcass weight (1.52 Kg) and dressing percentage (72.04%). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in thigh muscle, back and small intestinal weights in which 7.5% BLM diet had the highest values across the treatments. Most of the organs weights were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by BLM inclusion with exception of crop and proventriculus. Therefore, it was concluded that BLM can be incorporated in the diet of broiler chickens up to 7.5% level without any adverse effect on the performance, carcass yield with concomitant reduction in the cost of production