Effects of Substituting Some Components of Broilers’ Feed with Crude Aquous Extract of Fresh Leaves of Mucuna Poggei

Abstract

We studied the effects of substitution of Palm kernel cake (PKC), Fishmeal and Soyabean Cake (SBC) with crude extract of Mucuna poggei on the performances of broilers. A total of forty broiler chicks of a day old each were bought and shared into four groups of ten broilers each, allowed to acclimatize for two weeks and then reared for eight weeks. Palm kernel Cake (PKC), Fishmeal and Soyabean Cake (SBC) were given to broilers in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively with similar quantities of crude extract of Mucuna poggei fresh leaves. The fourth group served as a control and was fed normal feed (Fishmeal and Soyabean Cake). The weekly body weights of the broilers were taken for eight weeks, after which they were slaughtered for the determination of their carcass characteristics, breast meats' drip loss and cook loss. The results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the weights of the broilers at the end of the experiment. The "control" had the highest mean body weight of 1233.33±76.38g followed by "group 2" with mean body weight of 1150.00±50.00g while "group 3" had the least mean body weight of 950±40.82g followed by "group 1" with mean body weight of 1000.00±40.82g. There was no significant variation (P<0.05) in the cooking losses among the breast meats of the four groups. However, the results showed significant variation (P<0.05) in the drip losses among the breast meats of the broilers. On the whole, the results revealed that the control which had no crude extract of Mucuna poggei fresh leaves performed better than other groups which were given the extract as feed substitute. The crude extract should therefore be given to broilers as feed supplement not as feed substitute for optimal performance.

Evaluation of Effects of Supplementation of Sun-Dried Leaves of Mucuna Poggei on the Growth and Carcass Characteristics of Birds

“…These show that there is correlation between the live-weights of the birds and the weights of their carcasses as reported by Oko et al, (2012). The low live-weight and low carcasses weight gained by the group C that consumed the highest quantity of sun-dried leaves of Mucuna poggei could be attributed to their higher consumption of antinutrient factors such as phytate, saponin, alkaloids, tanin, L-Dopa, hydrogen cyanide, trypsin inhibitors etc present in the leaves as reported by Oko et al, (2012). Phytate is an anti-nutrient known to increase mineral requirement in animals by forming complexes with minerals.…”

“…Cost of feed is the most important single factor militating against profit-making among poultry farmers in Nigeria. It has been reported that poultry feeds account for about 70-80% of the total cost of poultry production (Olomu, 1979 andOko et al, 2012). According to Afolabi et al, (2005), a great percentage of this feed cost arises from providing adequate energy source in form of grains.…”

“…The high cost of feeds has been attributed to its scarcity and difficulty in sourcing major nutrients locally. This scarcity is also caused by inadequate knowledge of possible and cheaper sources of feed ingredients, lack of information on the use of agro-industrial products, over dependence on the importation of certain feed items that has local substitute etc (Olaboro, et al, 2001 andOko et al, 2012) The research for new feed stuffs for livestock rations in general and poultry (birds) in particular to reduce the soaring cost of commercial feed and consequently reduce the high cost of raising chickens is obviously necessary and imperative. This can be achieved by incorporating into feeds, cheaper nutrient sources which do not qualify for direct human consumption (Hill and Dansky, 2005).…”

“…In addition, it has been observed that some underutilized legumes promote the growth performance and many other essential characteristics in birds, chief among which is Mucuna poggei. The leaves of Mucuna poggei has interesting and substantial composition of nutrients such as calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals that are critical to the growth of birds (Oko et al, 2012) and (Awosanya et al, 1999).…”

“…Many scholars have unravelled the advantageous effects of incorporating the leaves into the diets of poultry (Cilly et al, 2003 andOko et al, 2012), and an outstanding noticeable differences have been found in the growth performance and carcass qualities of broilers fed with adequate amount of Mucuna poggei leaves without multivitamin supplements than others fed with conventional commercial feed (Odunsi and Olomu, 2000).…”