Improving Utilization of Acacia Leaves Meal and Its Effects on Broilers Performance.

Abstract

Two hundred and forty day old Cobb broiler chicks were distributed into eight groups; the experimental treatments were arranged in a factorial design (2x4) by using two levels of tartaric acid (0 and 0.30 %) and four levels of Acacia saligna leaves meal (ALM) L1, L2, L3 and L4 to be 0, 3, 6 and 9%, respectively. Results showed that supplemented broiler diets with 0.30%of tartaric acid improved digestion coefficients of CP, CF, NFE , DCP, live body weight , body gain ,feed conversion ,increased edible giblets%, digestive tract weight (%) and digestive tract length (cm) compared with the control. Increasing the level of ALM in the diet from 0 to 9% decreased the digestibility of nutrients , live body weight ,body gain and digestive tract weight (%) but , increased feed intake , edible giblets% and digestive tract length (cm) and gave inferior feed conversion. The interaction between organic acid addition and ALM level had a significant effect on improving the digestion coefficients of CP, CF, NFE , DCP, live body weight and body gain. A significant decrease in values of feed intake, feed conversion, edible giblets% and digestive tract length (cm) was seen in this respect. Also, a significant decrease in digestive tract weight (%) was detected among the fourth experimental groups fed ALM with 0.30% tartaric acid compared with the other untreated groups. Supplemented broiler diets with 6% of ALM with 0.30%of tartaric acid improved economic efficiency % of feed and relative economic efficiency of feed as compared with the control group. It may be concluded that using 6% of Acacia leaves meal and adding 0.30% tartaric acid in the diet reflect desirable results on broilers performance.

The Potential Use of Acacia Leaf Meal as Protein Feed Source for Poultry Diets: A Review

“…Abd El-Galil et al (2018) observed that the inclusion of 8% Acacia saligna leaf meal in Mamourah growing hens diet resulted in higher net returns, percentage of economical efficiency, and relative economical efficiency of feed, and least feed cost of kg gain compared to other inclusion levels. Hassan and Abd El-Dayem. (2019) also found that 6% Acacia leaves meal in broiler diets improved economic efficiency % of feed and relative economic efficiency of feed compared to the control diet.…”

“…The most common Acacia species includes Acacia karroo, Acacia tortilis, Acacia nilotica, Acacia angustissima, Acacia saligna and Acacia scaffneri. Although they have high crude protein content, their utilisation, anti-nutritional factors (amount and types of tannins), viability, and palatability need to be taken into consideration as they affect animal performance (Mokoboki et al, 2005;Anon, 2009;Hassan and Abd El-Dayem, 2019). There is limited information about the use of various Acacia meals as alternative protein sources in poultry feeds to improve productivity and reduce feed costs.…”