CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN DEVELOPMENT OF EGG-TYPE CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING Aspilia Africana

Abstract

Ameliorating high feed cost in poultry production using alternative feedstuff cannot be overemphasized. Hence, this experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Aspilia africana leaf meal on carcass characteristics and reproductive organs of 192 twelve weeks old pullets for three months in a battery cage system erected in a pen. Dried A. africana leaves were milled and used to replace part of soybean meal at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% to form four different diets treatments A₀, A₁, A₂ and A_3, respectively. Allotted to each treatment were 48 birds divided into four replicates of 12 birds each. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a Completely Randomized Design. Higher (p<0.05) values of live weight (1543.75 g, 1487.50 g and 1475.00 g) were recorded for birds fed diets containing up to 30% A. africana (A_1, A_2, A_3, respectively). The dressing percentage was higher (p<0.05) in birds fed 30% replacement when compared with birds on control diet. The cut-up-parts showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the values of head, shank and back. Higher number of matured yolks was recorded for all groups of birds fed diets containing Aspilia africana. It was concluded that –Aspilia Africana-leaf meal can meal can replace soyabean meal up to 30% without any adverse effect of reproductive organ and carcass evaluation of egg type chicken.