Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Ndubuisi, M., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Christian, A., Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Cynthia, O., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
An experiment was conducted to determine the performance of finisher broilers fed Gongronema latifolia leaf extract (GLLE) as supplementary source of vitamins and minerals. A total of 120 four (4) weeks old Marshall Strain commercial broilers were randomly selected and assigned to 4 experimental treatments namely: Water only (W); Water + Vitalyte® (WV); Water + 30ml GLLE (GL30); water + 60ml GLLE (GL60). Results of the final body weight, daily weight gain, total weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were higher in favour of birds on WV, GL30 and GL60. Average daily water consumption of the birds were similar (P>0.05) among birds in different treatments. The relative weights of the gizzard, liver, kidney and lungs of the birds were not hampered by the consumption of GLLE. The study showed that GLLE can conveniently substitute the use of commercially synthetic vitamins and minerals premixes in feeding poultry since it had no deleterious effect on the performance of the birds.