Effects of Dietary Siam Weed (Chromoleana odorata) Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance, Blood Profile and Meat Quality Attributes of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A six-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary inclusion of Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) leaf meal (COLM) on growth performance, hematological, serum biochemical indices and meat quality attributes of broiler chickens. Two hundred (200) day-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with five replicates of eight birds in a completely randomized design. The diets with COLM at 0g, 5g, 10g, 15g, and 20g per kg of feed were designated as diet 1-5. Results showed that dietary COLM had significant (P<0.05) influence on the feed intake, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed 15g COLM recorded the highest total feed intake (4426.20g) and average daily feed intake (85.12g), while birds on 5g COLM diet had the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.83).  Hematological parameters showed that birds fed diets containing 5g COLM had the highest value for the PCV, RBC, LYM and the least value for Heterophyls. The triglycerides, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly different in the parameters assessed for serum biochemistry.  Triglycerides had the highest value of (124.15mg/dL) for T2 and the least value of (88.52mg/dL) for T5. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the thermal shortening and the water holding capacity for meat quality attributes. Treatment five (20g) had the highest value for the thermal shortening (45.07) and the least value for the water holding capacity (62.67). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of COLM up to 15g enhanced growth performance without adverse effects.