ABSTRACT
Sixty “day old” broiler
chickens were used to evaluate the growth performance, haematological
parameters, organ characteristics and meat quality of broiler birds fed, pawpaw
leaf meal (PLM). The birds were divided into four treatments with three
replicates per treatment. Each replicate contained five birds. Broiler finisher
rations were formulated in which PLM was incorporated at levels of 0%, 0.5%,
1.5%, and 2.0% in the control (T1), T2, T3 and
T4 diets respectively. The diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous
containing 2850kcal ME/ Kg and 20% CP Daily feed intake in grams per bird per
day (g/b/d) Daily Body Weight gain (g/b/d), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and
Feed cost per kilogram gain in Naira (N) were determined. Four birds were
slaughtered at the end of the 10th week of birds’ age for meat
strength and organoleptic determinations. All data were subjected to analysis
of variance (ANOVA) for a Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that the
effect of treatments on Average Daily Weight Gain (g) (ADWG), Average Final
Body Weight (AFBW), Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI) (g/b), and Feed Conversion
Ratio (FCR) were significant (P < 0.05). There is a progressive increase in
Daily Weight gain and Daily Feed intake as the dietary level of PLM increased.
Haematological parameters of birds in all the treatments were within the normal
haematological values of broiler birds within their age. There is an improved
performance as level of PLM in diets increased from T1 toT4
in all the parameters evaluated. Similarly, there is an observed intense colour
change of the shanks as the dietary level increased from 0.5% to 2.0%. The
effect of feeding increasing dietary levels of PLM in Colour, Tenderness and
General Acceptability of broiler meat were significantly (P<0.05) better
than the control diet. The incorporation of PLM into finisher broiler diets had
nutritional benefits which led to general improved performance in body weight
changes, FCR, Feed cost/kg gain, Carcass and Organ Examinations,
Haematologicals parameters, Organoleptic indices and Meat strength of broiler
birds. It is concluded that 2% PLM can be included in the diets of finishing
broilers without any adverse effect on performance.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background Information
High cost of
feed emanating from volatility in the macro environment and general
unavailability of feed or high cost of feed ingredients, especially protein
sources has resulted in declining productivity and profitability for intensive
broiler production system. This Scenario has resulted in supply bottlenecks
forcing an upsurge in the price of broiler products in Nigeria. Given the
central importance that feeds play in intensive broiler system it becomes
imperative to identify other feed ingredients of lower cost and sound
biological values that can partly supplement the conventional protein sources in
broiler diets.
The use of
local, cheap and readily available materials particularly those that are not
readily utilized by man has received particular attention as the only viable
alternative to the use of conventional feedstuffs (Nwakpu et al., 2000; Ekenyem,
2006; Odunsi, 2003). This is as a result of the fact, that, the price of the
conventional protein sources have soured so high in recent times, due to stiff
competition between the Nigerian feed industry and man for the utilization of
conventional ingredients such as groundnut, soyabean, fish meal etc. hence,
call for investigation of this cheap, non conventional feed resources.
The protein
from leaves may be recovered and fed to farm animals in form of leaf meal
protein concentrates (Farinu et al., 1992). Leaf meal made from fodder
shrubs is helping small – scale farmers in Tanzania to boast their income (WAC,
2006). Leaf meal does not only serve as protein source but also provide some
necessary vitamins, minerals and also oxycarotenoids which cause yellow colour
of broiler skin, shank and egg yolk (D’Mello et al., 1987; Opara, 1996).
Among tested
leaf meals in poultry nutrition are Leucaena leucocephala, cassava leaf
meal, Lablab purpureus, Tithonia diversifolia, Microdesmis puberula, Ipomoea
asarifolia, Azadirachta indica, Tephrosia bracteolata among many others
However,
D’Mello (1995) opined that major constraints of leaf meal utilization in
non-ruminant animal nutrition are relatively high fibre, low energy, anti-nutritional
factors and reduced feed intake.
Pawpaw
(Carica papaya) is a plant native to Tropical America. It is known as “Okwuru
bekee” in Igboland, “Gonda” in Hausa and “Ibepe” in Yoruba speaking areas of
Nigeria. It is popular in the tropics and subtropics for its easy cultivation,
rapid growth, quick economic returns, and adaptation to diverse soils and
climates (Harkness, 1967; Campbell, 1984). Cultivated pawpaw is unbranched and
usually dioecious plant, although hermaphroditic sex type occur (Harkness 1967;
Seelig, 1970). However, pawpaw has been naturalized in many tropical and
subtropical countries (Randall, 2002). Pawpaw tree is not considered to be a
weed species (O.E.C.D., 2003). Pawpaw seedlings are among the most common
seedlings to emerge from the forest floor. The fruit of papaw has a sweet taste
and agreeable flavour and are high in vitamins (A, B, B2, C) and
minerals (Ca, P, Fe), low in sodium, fat and contain practically no
starch. Pawpaw leaf meal contains four identified proteolytic enzymes (Papain,
Chymopapain A and B and Papaya Peptidase).
In
the tropics, meat is often tenderized by wrapping in pawpaw leaves, the rate of reaction is slow at room temperature, increasing to
maximum activity at 800C and.....
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