NutritionalEvaluationofBitterLeafmeal (Vernonia amygdalina): Effects on Performance, Carcass and Serum Metabolites of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemicals present in bitter leaf meal and to determine the effect of
graded levels of bitter leaf meal (BLM) on performance, carcass quality, internal organs and serum metabolites
of broiler chickens. A total of 72 one-day-old broiler chicks of Abor-acre breed were used for the trial and fed
with diets supplemented with graded levels of bitter leaf meal (0%, 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%). The diets were
isonitrogenous and iso-caloric. The chicks were grouped into 4 treatments (18 chicks per treatment) and teach
treatment was replicated 3 times using a complete randomized design. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Results
showed a relatively high proximate and mineral content while phytochemical screening revealed that BLM
contains bioactive substances beneficial to broiler chickens with anti-nutrient concentrations below the critical
levels. The final liveweight, carcass weight and dressing percentage at 1362.27g, 1138.85g and 75.22%,
respectively improved in treated groups especially among birds fed diet containing 0.3% BLM. The improvement
in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 2.56 resulted in improved muscle development. The inclusion of BLM at
0.3% reduced the level of cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, low density lipoprotein, creatinine at 70.67mg/dl,
34.67mg/dl, 10.33mmol/l , 7.67mg/dl and 0.12mg/dl, respectively, and increased the high density lipoprotein
values at 90.33mg/dl. It was concluded that BLM is not deleterious to the growth and health status of broiler
chicken rather it can be a good growth booster