1. ADEYINKA OYE AKINTUNDE - Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,
Nigeria.
2. MARTHE DUPE OLUMIDE - Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,
Nigeria.
3. JESUJUWON FAKUNLE - Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,
Nigeria.
4. BOLATITO ADENIKE SHOBO - Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,
Nigeria.
5. OLUFUNSO EMMANUEL AKINBOYE - Department of Agriculture and Industrial Technology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,
Nigeria.
6. ADERIIKE GRACE ADEWUMI - Department of Basic Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The study was conducted to evaluate the utilization of varying levels of Pterocarpus mildbraedii leaf meal (PMLM) by broiler chickens. A total of 150 Arbor Acre day old chicks were acquired and subjected to a feeding trial for 4 weeks. The effects of PMLM were measured on growth performance, blood parameters and organ morphology of broiler chickens. The birds were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments: 0.1%PMLM, 0.2%PMLM, 0.4% PMLM, 0%PMLM with antibiotics (control) and 0%PMLM without antibiotics (control). Treatments composed of 3 replications at 10 birds per replicate. The experimental design used was Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Results indicated that inclusion of PMLM inclusion did not significantly influence (p>0.05) the performance characteristics (body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio). The inclusion of the supplements did not also significantly affect (p>0.05) all the haematological parameters measured except platelets where birds fed 0.2%PMLM supplements had significantly higher (p<0.05) value (148.25 ± 12.15) when compared to other treatments. Birds fed 0.2%PMLM supplements had significantly higher (p<0.05) values for albumin and globulin (1.91 ± 0.07g/dL and 0.83 ± 0.56g/dL respectively) but no significant difference (p>0.05) was recorded for glucose, total protein and creatinine. The supplementation did not also significantly affect (p>0.05) the weights of heart, spleen and liver but significant difference (p<0.05) was observed for the gizzard, small and large intestines. The use of PMLM in the diets of broiler chickens up to 0.4% supplementation level could be effectively
utilized without any deleterious effect and for optimum performance.
Antibiotic, Haematology, Phytobiotic, Serum biochemistry, Utilization.