NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY AND CAECUM MICROBIAL POPULATION OF BROILER FED CONOCARPUS LEAF MEAL DIETS

The current study investigated the effect of Conocarpus erectus leaf meal on nutrient digestibility and cecal microbial quantification of broilers. A total of 48 Ross 308 chickens at 30 days old with similar body weights were randomly allocated into four treatments with 4 replicates of 3 birds each. The Conocarpus erectus leaf meal was supplemented to the basal diet at four levels (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2%). The diets were offered to the birds ad libitum for four days, after that the birds were slaughtered at 35 days old. Birds fed the diet containing 2 % Conocarpus erectus leaf meal reported significantly higher digestibility of crude protein, dry matter, and ash than other treatment diets. Also, crude fiber digestibility was increased significantly by 2% and 1% of Conocarpus erectus leaf meal. The digestibility of ether extract declined significantly by 0.5% Conocarpus erectus leaf meal. The number of Lactobacillus spp. was similar among birds fed dietary treatments. The 0.5% Conocarpus erectus leaf meal diet increased the number of Bifidobacterium spp. The lower number of E. coli spp was reported by the 2% Conocarpus erectus leaf meal. In conclusion, the Conocarpus erectus leaf meal has a potential nutritional value that can be used as feed additives in the broiler chicken diet.