Effects of Eichhornia crassipes Leaf Meal as Feed Additive on Performance Characteristics and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Birds
Effects of Eichhornia crassipes Leaf Meal as Feed Additive on Performance Characteristics and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Birds
Ayoola Mathew Oluwaseyi1*, Aderemi Foluke Abimbola1, Alikwe Philip2 , Tumgbulu Samuel2, Eniufuoma Augustina2
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to evaluate the performance characteristics, physiological response and carcass quality of broiler birds fed diets containing Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) leaf meal (ECLM) as a feed additive. Treatment diets consisted of a commercial starter and finisher feed with ECLM added at graded levels of 0,1,2,3, and 4g/100kg, T1 with 0g ECLM served as the control. Two hundred and twenty-five Arbor acre-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to the dietary treatments each replicated thrice for eight weeks. Results revealed that average body weight gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p<0.05) affected by ECLM while spleen and bursa of fabricius were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by ECLM feed additive. Measured serum total protein of the groups on ECLM were significantly (p<0.05) higher, while serum cholesterol were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those on control group. Birds on 1% and 2% ECLM inclusion had the best dressed weight which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on control. ECLM inclusion as feed additive increased populations of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. and decreased populations of potentially harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli in the gut. No mortality was recorded during the experiment. In the main, ECLM can be a potential feed additive with 1-2% inclusion preferred in broiler production without any negative impact on performance, serum blood parameters, and carcass quality.
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