Utilization of Pawpaw Leaf Meal: Effect on Growth Response of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm of Taraba State University to investigate the utilization of dietary inclusion of Pawpaw Leaf Meal (PLM) on the Growth response of broiler chickens. A total of One Hundred and Eighty (180) day old broiler chicks were used in the study for eight weeks. The chicks were randomly allotted to five (5) treatment groups of thirty-six (36) birds per treatment and replicated three times with twelve (12) birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Five experimental diets were formulated with PLM at inclusion levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for both starter and finisher phases. The average daily weight gain, final weight gain and FCR for starter phase were statistically (P<0.05) different similarly average daily weight gain, final weight gain, FCR and average daily feed intake for the finisher phase were also statistically (P><0.05) different. The values recorded for final weight at the starter phase were 966.33g, 930.00g, 903.33g, 889.33 and 827.00g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively while the finisher phase showed values of 1598.06g, 1693.44g, 1826.72g 1988.00g and 1819.44g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The findings of this study showed that PLM inclusion at 15% in the diet of broiler chickens can be utilized as growth promoter that enhance growth performance without adverse effect on the health status of the birds. ><0.05) different similarly average daily weight gain, final weight gain, FCR and average daily feed intake for the finisher phase were also statistically (P<0.05) different. The values recorded for final weight at the starter phase were 966.33g, 930.00g, 903.33g, 889.33 and 827.00g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively while the finisher phase showed values of 1598.06g, 1693.44g, 1826.72g 1988.00g and 1819.44g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The findings of this study showed that PLM inclusion at 15% in the diet of broiler chickens can be utilized as growth promoter that enhance growth performance without adverse effect on the health status of the birds. ><0.05) different. The values recorded for final weight at the starter phase were 966.33g, 930.00g, 903.33g, 889.33 and 827.00g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively while the finisher phase showed values of 1598.06g, 1693.44g, 1826.72g 1988.00g and 1819.44g for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The findings of this study showed that PLM inclusion at 15% in the diet of broiler chickens can be utilized as growth promoter that enhance growth performance without adverse effect on the health status of the birds.