ABSTRACT
There is a need to identify local and natural sources of broiler chicken premix in order to meet the growing demand for quality animal protein in the developing world. To this end, the response of broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite as a replacement for vitamin-mineral premix was investigated. The leaf meal composite (LMC) encompassed four locally available leafy vegetables: Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), Moringa, (Moringa oleifera), Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and African basil (Ocimum gratissimum). Growth performance, carcass characteristics, internal organ proportions, haematological indices, serum biochemical indices and feed cost benefit were considered. Six experimental diets were formulated in which the LMC inclusion level was at 0.00 (0.25% premix), 0.125 (0.125% premix), 0.25 (0.0% premix), 0.50 (0.0% premix), 0.75 (0.0% premix) and 1.00% (0.0% premix) at the expense of commercial premix and designated diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. 180 unsexed arbor acer strain broiler chickens were randomly assigned to these 6 dietary treatments which had 30 birds each. The treatments were replicated thrice with 10 birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. Birds were fed these diets from day one; feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experiment which lasted for 56 days. For growth performance, exception of initial body weight, other parameters were significantly (p˂0.05) different at the starter phase. T1 had the best final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio, followed by T2. However, birds fed diet 6 had the highest value for feed intake at both phases. For haematological indices at the starter phase, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the mean values of all parameters across all dietary treatments except PCV and MCV. Although significant differences were observed in all haematological and serum biochemical indices for the finisher phase, the values did not reveal any health problem. The cut parts (thigh and wings) as well as organ (liver, kidney, caeca, spleen and gall bladder) weights differed significantly (p<0.05). However, there was reduction in abdominal fat of birds fed test diets. Birds fed control diet for the starter phase had the highest revenue and gross margin which was closely followed by birds fed diet 6. Birds fed diet 3 recorded the lowest values. The cost per Kg of diet for the finisher phase was least in T6 diet and highest in T1 diet. The cost of production increased as the level of the composite leaf meal inclusion increased. In addition, birds fed diet 3 and 6 recorded the highest numerical values for revenue and gross margin. The study showed that the LMC has considerable potential as components of broiler chickens diets in developing countries. Inclusion of leaf meal at 1.00% can successfully be used to replace vitamin-mineral premix in finisher diet. However, 0.25% inclusion is recommended only for the finisher phase. Further research should be carried out on the levels higher than 1.00% and the optimal level of inclusion to mitigate potential adverse effects on growth performance.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
Page
i
Declaration
ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgments v
Table
of Contents vi
List
of Tables ix
List
of Plates x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background Information 1 1.2 Statement
of Problem 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study 4 1.4 Justification
of the Study 4
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
Nutrient Requirements of Broiler Chickens 6 2.1.1
Energy requirements 7 2.1.2
Protein requirements 7 2.1.3
Fibre requirements 8 2.1.4
Mineral requirements
8 2.1.5 Vitamin requirements 18
2.2
Blood as a Component in Animal Nutritional Studies 29
2.2.1 Significance of haematological
profile in nutritional studies of broiler chicken 30
2.2.2
Significance of serum profile in nutritional studies of broiler chicken
35
2.3
General Overview of Leafy Vegetables used in Poultry Production 41
2.3.1 Moringa 41
2.3.2 Fluted
pumpkin 43
2.3.3 Sweet potato 46
2.3.4 Scent Leaf 46
2.4 Nutritional Potentials of Leaf Meals on
Broiler Chicken Production 49
2.4.1
Effect of leaf meal on visceral organs and carcass characteristics 50
2.4.2 Effect
of leaf meal on performance 51
2.4.3
Effect of leaf meal on haematological indices 53
2.5.
Evaluation of
Composite Leaf Meal in Animal Production 54
2.5.1 Feeding trial on broiler
chicken production 54
2.5.2 Feeding trial on pig production 57
CHAPTER
3: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Experimental site and location 60
3.2 Duration of study
60
3.3 Processing and formulation of leaf meal
composite 60
3.4 Experimental design 63
3.5 Experimental diets 63
3.6
Experimental animal and management 67 3.7 Data collection and analysis 69
3.8
Statistical analysis 78
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1
Growth Performance of Starter Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal Composite 79
4.2
Haematological Profile of Starter Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal
Composite 83
4.3
Serum Biochemical Profile of
Starter Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal
Composite 87
4.4 Feed Cost Benefit Analysis of Starter
Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal Composite
91
4.5
Growth Performance of Finisher Broiler
Chickens fed Leaf Meal Composite
94
4.6 Haematological Profile of Finisher Broiler
Chickens fed Leaf Meal Composite
97
4.7
Serum Biochemical Profile of Finisher Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal
Composite 101
4.8
Carcass Yield and Cut-Parts of Finisher Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal
Composite 106
4.9
Internal Organ Proportions of
Finisher Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal
Composite 109
4.10 Feed Cost Benefit Analysis of
Finisher Broiler Chickens fed Leaf Meal
Composite 112
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 114
5.2 Conclusion
115
5.3 Recommendations 115
References 117
LIST
OF TABLES
2.1
Vitamin and mineral requirements of broiler chicken 27
3.1
Ingredient and nutrient composition of experimental starter broiler diets 63
3.2 Proximate composition of starter broiler
chicken diet containing leaf
meal composite as replacement for
vitamin-mineral premix 63
3.3 Ingredient and nutrient composition of
experimental finisher diets 64
3.4 Proximate
composition of finisher broiler chicken diet containing
leaf meal composite as replacement
for vitamin-mineral premix 64
3.5 Mineral
and vitamin content of leaf meal composite 65
4.1 Growth
performance of starter broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite 81
4.2 Haematological
profile of starter broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite 85
4.3 Serum
biochemical profile of starter broiler chickens fed leaf meal
composite 89
4.4 Feed
cost benefit of starter broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite 92
4.5 Growth
performance of finisher broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite 95
4.6 Haematological
profile of finisher broiler chickens fed leaf meal
composite 99
4.7 Serum
profile of finisher broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite 104
4.8 Carcass
yield and cut-parts of broiler chicken fed leaf meal composite 107
4.9 Organ
proportion of broiler chicken fed leaf meal composite 110
4.10 Feed cost benefit analysis of finisher
broiler chickens fed leaf meal
composite 112
List of Plates
1: Milled Moringa leaves 60
2: Milled Pumpkin leaves 60
3: Milled Scent leaves 61
4: Milled Potato leaves 61
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The
socioeconomic development of any country as regards to poultry production
cannot be overemphasized due to its ability to provide animal protein within a
shorter period of time and at reasonable cost (Bonsu et al., 2012). Furthermore, the low level of cholesterol
content in broiler carcass also favors
the demand of broiler meat, therefore efforts must be deepened not only to
increase the number of broilers but also to improve productivity (Ndelekwute et al., 2017). In
Nigeria, broiler production seems to be a considerable part of meat production
and consumption. In the past two decades, broiler production has grown
radically due to numerous researches which further enhanced feed utilization
and growth rate (Kafi et al., 2017).
In an intensive poultry enterprise, feed is
the major component cost, and the ultimate challenge is to reduce its cost to a
minimum without compromising the quality of the products (Ziggers, 2011;
Adegbenro et al., 2018). Research
efforts in the developing countries including Nigeria in recent times have been
directed on the need to address the ever increasing cost of animal feeds which
has always constituted a perennial hindrance to the expansion of livestock
industry (Aro and Ajiboye, 2016). Adequate knowledge of poultry nutrition,
macro and of course micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals) in agro-industrial
by-products and green vegetable plants as alternative feed ingredients for the
more expensive conventional feed ingredients is imperative for good ration formulation
(Adegbenro et al., 2012).
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that must be added
to feed in amount that meet minimum dietary requirements for proper growth and
performance. It may be necessary to add extra amount of some vitamins to
achieve minimum levels for other vitamins. Bert and Dianne (2011) stated that higher
levels may increase the cost of the complete feed but is better than creating
vitamin deficiencies which can be detrimental to production. Vitamin-mineral
premix is the mixture of vitamins and minerals which is added to the formulated
diet to meet up the requirements of at least few vitamins and minerals that are
deficient in the formulated diet (Igugo, 2014). Vitamin-mineral premix
inclusion in diet formulated for chicken has become an indispensable practice
as feed materials do not contain all essential minerals and vitamins at
adequate amount required (Asaduzzaman et al., 2005).
However, their incorporation into animal feed is still
negligible in view of the huge dependence on vitamin/mineral premixes which are
well adopted sources of micronutrients: vitamins and minerals (Alabi et al.,
2008). Furthermore, one of the ways of reducing the cost of poultry feed is
by preparing vitamin-mineral premix from locally available feed materials. Leaf meals serve as a protein source and also provide
necessary vitamins and minerals (Abu et al., 2015).With this, the
cost of producing monogastric diets will be significantly reduced which will in
turn increase quality meat production in Nigeria.
In the course of world clamor for sustained food
security through organic farming enhancement, the combination of Fluted pumpkin
(Telfairia occidentalis), Moringa, (Moringa oleifera), Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and African basil/scent
(Ocimum gratissimum) leaf could be as
a replacer for the commercial premix often used in poultry diet production.
These leaves are obtained from plants widely distributed in Nigeria. They have
been asserted to provide various culinary and medicinal properties. As a source
of vitamin-mineral premix, they contain vitamins and minerals of nutritional
importance.
1.2
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Nutrition has been a major determinant of profit
making in livestock business as feeding accounts for about 70-80% of the costs
of producing livestock, most especially poultry (Onunkwo et al., 2018). High cost of feed has been one of the key factors
militating against the development of poultry, resulting from a cumulative
effect of cost of feed ingredient used in feed production. In Nigeria, concerted
efforts have been made to alternative macro feed ingredients especially from
agro-industrial by-products and feedstuffs to solve this costly feed problem.
These ingredients have however been used mainly to resolve the high cost of
energy and protein ingredient in livestock production.
Vitamin-mineral premixes, an important
feed ingredient which contribute substantially to animal well-being in terms of
providing essential micro-nutrients have however not received same attention.
Though this ingredient is normally incorporated into the diet at a relatively
low level, such inclusion often comes with a very large cost of the total
financial outlay earmarked for the feed component of the livestock enterprise.
The reason for this is that most of the vitamin-mineral premixes used in the
developing country like Nigeria are imported, and hence sold to the local
livestock farmers at a cost that is usually not affordable and mostly
unbearable to them. Most poultry farmers observed that among the many
commercial vitamin-mineral premixes, few are of poor quality most probably due
to adulteration by businessmen. Furthermore, more than 95% of the premixes are
synthetically manufactured with chemicals, thus do not come from natural
source. Most of the synthetic premixes are isolated, and this makes them lack
cofactors and transporters associated with naturally occurring vitamins and
minerals. Report from Global Healing Centre (2013) stated that emphasis have
been made by Organic Consumers Association (O.C.A) that isolated vitamins and
mineral cannot be recognized or utilized by the body in the same way as natural
source. Premix formulation from naturally and locally available
non-conventional ingredients in developing countries like Nigeria is the most
appropriate technology that should be exploited.
1.3
OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of this study was to determine
the response of broiler chickens fed diet containing leaf meal composite as a
replacement for vitamin-mineral premix.
The specific objectives were to determine:
i. the
performance of broiler chickens fed diet containing leaf meal composite;
ii. the
carcass characteristics and organ proportion of broiler chickens fed diet
containing leaf meal composite;
iii. the
haematological indices of broiler chickens fed leaf meal composite;
iv. the
serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed diet containing leaf meal composite;
v. the
feed cost benefit of broiler chickens fed diet containing leaf meal composite.
1.4 JUSTIFICATION
OF THE STUDY
The profit of broiler farming mainly depends on
economic feeding of balanced, cheap and quality diets. The current global
emphasis in broiler production is the formulation of feed at least cost, and
also free as much as possible of synthetic products (inorganic feed) owing to
the deleterious side effects of consistent consumption of non-biodegradable
synthetic products on both animals and human health. In broiler production, the
use of organic systems is growing drastically due to consumer demand
specifically for “natural” and “welfare friendly” meat (Dan et al.,
2012).
The use of locally and naturally available
non-conventional feedstuffs feed ingredients like Scent leaf, Sweet potato
leaf, Fluted pumpkin and Moringa leaf present in Nigeria are direct method of
eliminating these problems. These plants leaves can be processed into composite
leaf meal to replace conventional premix in animal diet. They are aromatic
plants and spices in daily human nutrition for enhancement of taste, aroma and
color of food. These additives have been successfully used in animal nutrition
for the improvement of health and animal wellbeing as they are rich in vitamins
and minerals. Also, the plants can easily be cultivated and found all around
us.
Production and utilization of alternative natural
vitamin- mineral premix from leaf composite in animal production will not only
help poultry farmers to reduce expenses or eliminate doubtful potency of
commercial vitamin–mineral premix, but also improve the efficiency of their
production (synthetic form) as well as reduce health risk, environmental
pollution and make it readily available when needed.
This research therefore has been designed to enhance
efficient productivity by producing improved, readily available and cost
effective locally formulated vitamins and mineral premix for broiler chicken.
It is hoped that this effort will lead to recommending a suitable leaf meal
composite as a source of mineral-vitamin premix to broiler chicken producers.
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