Omparative Evaluation Of Processed Papaya Leaves At Varying Inclusion Levels On The Growth And Health Performances Of Broiler Chickens:- Ifeanacho, Chinyere A

ABSTRACT though not significantly different (P<0.05), but lower than the control. Haematological ix parameters of birds in all the treatments were within the normal haematological values of broiler birds within their age. The incorporation of DPLM into broiler chicken diets had no nutritional 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 benefits as it did not generally improve performance in body weight changes, FCR, carcass and organ examinations, haematological parameters. It is concluded that incorporation of air dried PLM at measured quantities into commercial broiler chicken feed had no nutritional benefits because of antinutritional elements contained in pawpaw leaves (saponin, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, phenol which limited the availability of nutrients. The urea, cholesterol and creatinine though significantly different (P<0.05), were within the normal ranges. Hundred “day old” broiler chickens were used to evaluate the growth performance, haematological parameters, serum biochemistry and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed pawpaw leaf meal (PLM). The birds were divided into five treatments with three replicates per treatment. Each treatment had eighteen birds and each replicate six birds, but the control had 28birds in total and nine birds in each replicate. Broiler chicken rations were formulated in which PLM was incorporated at levels of 0 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg, 2.0 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, and 3.0g/kg. Daily feed intake in grams per bird per day (g/b/d), daily Body Weight gain (g/b/d), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were determined. Blood samples were collected at the end of 8 weeks and 3 birds were randomly selected for slaughter from each treatment after collection. All data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for a Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that the