SUPPLEMENTAL EFFECTS OF GLIRICIDIA (Gliricidia sepium) AND AVOCADO (Persea americana) LEAF MEALS ON GROWTH PARAMETERS AND HEALTH INDICATORS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study investigated the supplemental effect of Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and Avocado (Persea americana) leaves on zootechnical parameters and health status of broiler chickens. The avocado and gliricidia leaves were manually harvested, air-dried and milled to produce leaf meals, then mixed in ratio 1:1 to form the Gliricidia – avocado leaf meal (GALM). The leaves were analyzed for their phyto-chemicals, proximate composition, mineral components and antioxidant properties. Two hundred and fifty (250) day-old chicks of Arbor Acre were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments of five replicates of ten chicks each in a completely randomized design. A basal diet was formulated, divided into four portions in which GALM was added at 0, 4, 8 and 12g/kg and designated diets I-IV, respectively. The trial spanned 42 days from which data were collected for growth analysis. After the feeding trial, three (3) birds from each replicate were slaughtered for haematology, serum biochemistry and antioxidant properties. All the birds fed the test diets showed improved performance parameters compared to those fed the control diet. For haematology; PCV and haemoglobin content were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment. Birds fed diets II (39.00±1.15) and III (40.33±1.45) for PCV and birds fed diet III (13.43±0.47) for haemoglobin content were higher than the control. In antioxidant properties, the glutathione perodixase and superoxide dismutase were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. All the carcass and relative organ weights were not significantly affected (P>0.05) except spleen. Based on the experimental outcomes, it could be recommended that GALM supplementation in broiler chickens up to 12g/kg improved the growth performance. Considering the health status (haematological parameters and serum biochemical indices) results, it could also be concluded that GALM had no adverse effect on the health status of the broiler chickens when supplemented at 8g/kg.