Effect of dietary inclusion of Anthonata macrophyla meal on the performance of broiler starter chicks

Abstract

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of Anth:-:: macrophylla meal on the performance of broiler starter chicks. Anthonala macrophyla was harvested from the wild, wushed, chopped into tablets, sun-dried and milled to produce the test meal. The meal contained un diy matter basis 21.11% crude protein, 1.90% crude fat, 2.00% total ash, 5.03% crude fibre and 54.36% nitrogen free extract. Five (5) broiler starter diets were formulated to contain the meal at 0,5,10,15 and 20% level, respectively. One hundred and eighty (180) day-old Anak broiler chicks were divided into 5 groups of thirty-six birds each and randomly allocated to the five treatment rations in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficient ratio, cost of production of one kilogramme of each test feed among others and carcass characteristics. At 15 and 20% dietary levels. Anthonata macrophylla significantly (p<0.05) depressed feed intake, daily weight guin, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios and final weight gain of the birds. Organ weight parameters showed no significant (P>0.05) differences among the treatments. The results of this investigation suggest that Anthonata macrophyla meal can be included in broiler starter ration up to 10% without any deleterious effect on the birds and at this level of inclusion, feed cost was reduced by 10%.