Chemical Composition of Editan (Lasianthera africana) Leaf Meal and Nutrient Digestibility of the Leaf Meal by Finisher Broiler Chickens

This study investigated the chemical composition of editan (Lasianthera africana) leaves and the nutrient digestibility of finisher broiler chickens fed editan leaf meal (ELM). The sun-dried editan leaves were milled and analyzed for their proximate composition, minerals, amino acid concentration and anti-nutritional composition. One hundred and fifty (150) day old unsexed Abor acre chicks were randomly assigned to five (5) dietary treatments (T1-T5) containing 0, 5, 6, 7 and 8 % editan leaf meal (ELM) respectively and each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds giving a total of 30 birds per treatment. Feed and water were given ad libitum which lasted for 56 days. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). At the end of the 8th week, two (2) birds per replicate were transferred to the metabolic cage. Both the feed and the feacal output collected during the trial period were analyzed. The results showed that the crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, dry matter, carbohydrate and gross energy contents of the ELM were; 19.74 %, 15.69 %, 2.81 %, 7.91 % 89.40 %, 43.25 % and 3.995 kcal/g respectively. The macro and micro minerals analysis and amino acids profile revealed that Editan (Lasianthera africana) leaf meal is rich in dietary nutrients and when added to the diets of broiler chickens improves nutrient utilization but as the inclusion level increases, it depresses nutrient digestibility which in-turn affected their growth as shown in the final body weights. The results of the nutrient digestibility showed that all the parameters measured were significantly (p<0.05) affected. Percentage digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, ash, dry matter and nitrogen free extract were significantly higher in T2 with 5 % ELM compared to (T1) without ELM in the diet. Therefore, it could be concluded that ELM up to 5 % can be substituted for palm kernel cake (PKC) in the diet of broiler chicken without any adverse effect.