Alternanter dentata (Joseph’s coat) leaf meal as replacement for maize on the performance of broiler finisher chicks

The search for cheaper and alternative feedstuff for poultry has prompted this study. A 28- day feeding trial was conducted using 225 unsexed Marshal strain of broiler finisher chicks fed 0, 10, 20, 30 and 45% Alternanter dentata Leaf Meal (ADLM) in a completely randomized design where ADLM replaced whole maize weight for weight. Each of the five dietary treatments was further replicated three times. Routine management practices, vaccination and medication typical of broilers were strictly adhered to. The initial weight, final weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, feed cost/kilogram, feed cost/kilogram weight gain and mortality were measured. Results show that birds on control (0% ADLM) and 10% ADLM did not differ significantly (p>0.05) in their final weights of 2.10 and 2.01 kg; weight gain of 1.5 and 1.41 kg; average daily weight gain of 0.05.3 and 0.050 kg; average daily feed intake of 0.147 and 0.140 kg and feed conversion ratio of 2.77 and 2.80 respectively but were superior to those of levels 20, 30 and 45%. With the exception of feed cost/kg gain and mortality (which did not follow any particular trend), other parameters decreased in performance as the level of ADLM increased from 0-45% in the diets. Results confirmed that ADLM could substitute whole maize as feed ingredient for finisher broilers up to 10%.Key words: Finisher broiler chicks, Alternanter dentate leaf meal (ADLM), wholemaiz