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South Asian Research Journal of Biology and Applied Biosciences (SARJBAB)
Volume-7 | Issue-03
Original Research Article
The Effect of Graded Levels of Dietary Atama (Heinsia crinita) Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance and Cost Benefits of Starter Broiler Chickens
Utip, I. U., Uduak, L. U., Itu, P. O., Ekpe, E. B., Adegoke, O. O.
Published : May 27, 2025
DOI : https://doi.org/10.36346/sarjbab.2025.v07i03.004
Abstract
This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of graded levels of dietary Atama (Heinsia crinita) leaf meal (ALM) on the growth performance and cost benefit of Starter Broiler chickens. A total of ninety-six (96) unsexed day old of Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four (4) treatments and each treatment was further divided into three (3) replicates of eight (8) birds, each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment which lasted for 4 weeks (28 days). Feed was formulated with different levels of Atama Leafmeal inclusion for the four treatments, as follows; T1, T2, T3 and T4 which contained 0%, 6%, 7% and 8% of Atama leaf meal, respectively. The parameters measured were initial weight gain, final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, total feed intake, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein intake and protein efficiency respectively. Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed for final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, total feed intake, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein intake and protein efficiency except for initial weight gain. The final weight gain, and daily weight gain followed the same trend, T1 (0%ALM) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than T2 (6%ALM), T3 (7%ALM), and T4 (8%AM). For the total feed intake, average feed intake and protein intake, T1 (0%ALM) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than T2, T3, and T4 while T4 was significantly (p<0.05) lower and statistically (p>0.05) similar to T3 (7%ALM). For the feed conversion ratio (FCR), birds fed diet 1 (0%ALM) had the least FCR which was the best followed by T2 (6%ALM) and T3 (7%ALM) while T4 (8%ALM) had the poorest FCR of 5.35. In conclusion, 6% ALM could be included in starter broiler chickens’ diet without any detrimental effect on the growth performance in cases where PKC is scarce.

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