Effect of Acacia karroo Leaf Meal Inclusion Levels on Performance and Gut Morphology of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of Acacia karroo leaf meal (AKLM) inclusion in diets on growth performance and gut morphology of Ross 308 chickens from day-old to 6 weeks of age. 320-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were assigned to a 2 (sex) × 4 (dietary treatment levels) factorial arrangement in a CRD, having 8 treatments, replicated x4 with 10 chicks/replicate. AKLM inclusion levels were at 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5g/kg dry matter (DM). Weekly feed intake (FI), live weight (LW), and growth rate (GR) were measured to obtain the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Gut characteristics were measured on days 21 st and 42 nd of age. Data were analysed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of the Statistical Analysis System. FI, FCR, GR, and LW of both sexes were the same (P>0.05) across all treatments for the first 2 weeks. During the 3 rd week, AKLM inclusion levels significantly (P<0.05) affected DM intake, FCR, GR, and LWs of both sexes. In the last 3 weeks of the trial, FI, FCR, GR, and LW for both male and female broilers were similar (P>0.05) across all treatments. AKLM did not affect (P>0.05) gut organ digesta pH, lengths, and weight values of male and female broilers aged 21 days. At day 42 of age, AKLM inclusion levels in the diets affected (P<0.05) gastrointestinal tract (GIT), ileum, and large intestine lengths of male broilers. Female broiler chickens on a diet having 1.0g of AKLM had longer (P<0.05) GIT than those without AKLM inclusion. Female broiler chickens on a diet having 1.0g of AKLM per kg DM had higher (P<0.05) gizzard weights than those diets with no AKLM inclusion at 6 weeks old. It is concluded that AKLM up to 1.5g/kg DM could be included in broiler chicken diets without any adverse effects on the performance and gut morphology.