Growth performance and haemato-biochemistry of FUNAAB Alpha chickens fed diets compounded with graded replacement of soybean by cassava-moringa leaf meal

A 12-week study evaluated growth and haemato-biochemistry of FUNAAB Alpha chickens fed cassava-moringa leaf meal mixture (CML) as partial replacement for soybean using the completely randomized design. Day-old FUNAAB Alpha chicks (n = 225) were randomly allocated to five groups of three replications per group, and fed diets containing 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% CML respectively, including control without CML on ad libitum basis. Feed intake (FI) and weekly body weight of the birds were measured to calculate the average daily weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed cost per kg gain (FCG). At the end of the study, blood was collected from three birds per replicate to perform haemato-biochemical analysis. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and results showed that birds fed 10% and 15% CML had higher FI (p < 0.05) compared to other groups, while those fed 15% and 10% CML recorded better FBW and ADWG, similar to control (p > 0.05); however, broilers fed 5% CML had better FCR and FCG than control (p < 0.05). Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in birds fed 10% CML than in those fed 5% and 15% CML (p < 0.05). Birds fed 10% CML had lower ALT and AST levels than control (p < 0.05), while those fed 5% and 20% CML recorded lower ALP than control (p < 0.05). Therefore, feeding 15% and 20% CML replacements of soybean could be viable, preferable and suitable for the growth of FUNAAB Alpha chickens. However, 10% to 15% CML was the optimum range for improved growth and haemato-biochemistry in the birds, with 10% CML being particularly beneficial for lipid profile and liver health.