GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FEED COST BENEFITS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED GRADED LEVELS OF BRIMSTONE (Morindalucida Benth.) LEAF POWDER AS DIETARY PHYTOGENIC ADDITIVE

Abstract

The study determined the growth and feed cost benefits of broiler chickens fed graded levels of Morinda lucida leaf powder (MLP) using a total of 180 day-old broiler chicks (Arbor acre). They were weighed and randomly grouped into four dietary treatments of 3 replicates with 15 chicks each. The dietary treatments consisted of the control (basal diet), control+1g /kgMLP, control+2g/ kgMLP and control+3g/kgMLP diets. Body weights, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the birds were taken on a weekly basis and the feed cost benefits was calculated at the end of each experimental phase.The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design and data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Results obtained showed that inclusion of MLP at 1 and 2g/kg significantly increased (p<0.05) the final body weight at starter phase but had no effect (p>0.05) on finisher’s final weight. Also, feed intake was significantly high (p<0.05) in birds on 1g/kgMLP (1528.43g) at starter phase but not significantly influenced (p>0.05) by MLP inclusion at finisher phase. FCR on the other hand was not significantly influenced (p>0.05) by MLP inclusion at the two phases of the experiment. Cost of feed per kg weight gain was significantly lowered (p<0.05) at the finishing phase in birds fed 1g/kg and 2g/kg MLP (N364.50 and N353.48). Inclusion of MLP at 1 and 2g/kg improved feed cost benefit of broiler chickens at finishing phase with no deleterious effect on growth performance.