Growth performance of chickens fed Gongronema latifolia leaf extracts as a supplementary source of vitamins and minerals

Machebe Ndubuisi , Agbo Christian* and Onuaguluchi Cynthia

Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
ndubuisi.machebe@unn.edu.ng
* Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Abstract

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.

Key words: broilers, growth, phytochemical, plant, strain

Introduction

The use of various plant extracts in broiler production has been documented (Essien et al 2007; Nworgu et al 2007; Galib and Noor 2010). Gongronema latifolia commonly called “utazi” and “arokeke” in the south eastern and south western Nigeria, respectively, is one of the plants whose extracts (stem, leaves and root) have been found to be beneficial to both humans and animals (Photos 1 and 2). According to Anaso and Onochie (1999), the plant leaves extract has been used as bitter spice or flavouring agent in many traditional dishes. Local poultry farmers use it for the treatment of common respiratory diseases (Essien et al 2007).

Gamaniel and Akah (1996) reported that the leaf extracts contain five phytochemical compounds including alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides and suggested possible varied pharmacological effects. Similarly, the leaf extracts have been shown to have anti-oxidative properties and are being utilized in management of diabetes mellitus and other tropical diseases (Ugochukwu et al 2003; Agbo et al 2005). Agbo et al (2005) identified the crop to be nutritionally high in iron, zinc, vitamins, protein and amino acids and thus could complement the inadequacies of these substances in feed. Unfortunately, its beneficial inclusion as a source of vitamins and minerals in broiler production is still at a very low ebb.

This study was aimed at determining the performance of finisher broilers fed G. latifolia leaf extract (GLLE) as supplementary source of vitamins and minerals.

Materials and Methods

Location and duration of the study

The experiment was conducted at the poultry unit of the Department of Animal Science, Teaching and Research farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Nsukka lies in the Derived Savanah Region and is located on longitude 6^o 25¹ N and latitude 7 ^o 24 ¹ E (Ofomata, 1975). The town is situated at an altitude of 430m above sea level. The climate in this area is humid tropical, with average annual rainfall range of 1680-1700mm. The mean air temperature is 26.6^o C (Breinholt et al 1981). Data collection lasted for 5 weeks immediately after 28 days starter period.

Collection and preparation of Gongronema latifolia leaf extracts

Fresh leaves of G. latifolia were harvested from a selected clone, ENS-08-MBU from an established G. latifolia field in the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Photos 1 and 2). The leaves were rinsed in clean water to remove dirt and sand, and were later air dried under room temperature for 10 days. The dried leaves were milled into tiny particles and thereafter, were soaked in water at the rate of 1.25 kg in 5 litres. The supernatant was stored in a refrigerator maintained at 5^oC and used on daily basis as G. latifolia leaf extract (GLLE).

Photo 1. Crawling G. latifolia plants	Photo 2.  Staked growing field of G. latifolia

Experimental procedure

One hundred and twenty (120) 4-weeks old Marshal Strain commercial broiler birds were randomly selected and assigned to four of the experimental treatments in a complete randomised design (CRD). Each experimental treatment contained 30 birds made up of 3 replicates of 10 birds each. The experimental treatments were as follows;

• W: Water only

• WV: Water + Vitalyte®;

• GL30: Water + 30ml GLLE;

• GL 60: Water + 60ml GLLE.

The Vitalyte® was administered in water according to the manufacturer’s recommendation of 5g per litre of drinking water (WV). Birds in GL30 and GL60 were provided drinking water having 30 and 60mls of GLLE per litre of water, respectively. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum during the experiment. The percentage compositions of compounded broiler finisher diet and GLLE are presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Proximate compositions of the samples were determined using standard methods (AOAC, 1990) whereas vitamins and minerals contents of GLLE were determined by the methods described by Pearson (1976). The birds were subjected to standard broiler management procedures. Feed and water intakes were recorded daily where as body weights were recorded weekly for each replicate. Feed conversion ratio and total weight gains were also calculated.

At the end of the experiment (8weeks), 4 birds per replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered to obtain the relative weights of the organs. Data were analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure using SPSS Computer package (SPSS, 2001). Means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (Duncan 1955).

Results and Discussion

The results of the performance of finisher broilers fed GLLE as vitamins and minerals supplement are presented in Table 3.

Results showed that administration of Vitalyte® and GLLE to finisher broilers significantly (P<0.01) increased the growth indices. Final body weight, daily weight gain, total weight gain and daily feed intake were higher for birds on Vitalyte® (WV) and GLLE (GL30 and GL60), indicating that finisher broilers can tolerate up to 1 litre:60ml concentration of water and GLLE, respectively with positive effects on their growth performance. It may be inferred that the organs of the birds are already well developed and equipped to tolerate any anti-nutritive factors inherent in GLLE extract.  Nworgu et al (2007) gave similar suggestions for broiler finisher birds fed Fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis) leaves extract.

Although, daily feed intake of birds on the control treatment (W) and those on Vitalyte® (WV) were similar, daily feed intake of birds on GLLE (GL30 and GL60) were markedly better than those on the control (W). The different responses of birds to the levels of GLLE extract with respect to feed intake may be as a result of the availability of useful vitamins and minerals inherent in the extract. Oluyemi and Roberts (2000) reports supported that the incorporation of both micro and macro nutrients in poultry diets enhances feed intake and feed utilization.

The feed conversion ratio of birds on WV (3.38), GL30 (3.84) and GL60 (3.63) were lower compared with 5.46 in the control (W) birds. Birds on WV, GL30 and GL60 had similar feed conversion ratio. The comparable performance of birds on WV with those on GL30 and GL60 suggests that GLLE stands the chance of possibly replacing the use of costly synthetic commercial vitamins and mineral premixes as a major source of these nutrients in poultry production. Although the average feed conversion ratio (4.08) in this study is higher than values reported by Nworgu et al (2007), it is however within the range of 3.60 to 4.66 reported by Esonu et al (2007).

Generally, growth performance of birds can vary due to breed/genotype, age, nutrition, duration of experiment, ambient temperature, disease as well as management. It may be pertinent to infer that the addition of Vitalyte® and GLLE increased the ability of the birds to utilize available nutrients in the feed. The proximate compositions of GLLE showed that it is rich in protein of high biological value (Agbo et al 2009). The level of GLLE used in this study had nutritional benefits to the birds probably because it contained active vitamins and minerals (Table 2) which are beneficial to the growth of the birds. Active ingredients like vitamin E and C, beta carotenes, phenols, lycopene, alkaloids, haemagluttinins, and flavonoids have been reported to have anti-oxidative properties (Ugochukwu et al 2003; Agbo et al 2005) and possible pharmacological effects (Okafor 2005). This may have led to the significantly higher growth performance recorded for birds on GLLE compared with the control.

There were no differences in the relative weights of the gizzard, liver, kidney and lungs of the birds among the treatment groups (Table 4).

According to Iweala and Obidoa (2009), G. latifolia is not toxic to the liver and because it has the ability to reduce the level of liver enzymes in the blood, its role is rather protective and not destructive to the liver. Flavonoids content in G. latifolia have been implicated as the major constituent that gives G. latifolia its hepa-protective properties (Perrissoud 1986).  Perrissoud (1986) reported that flavonoids exert a membrane-stabilizing action that protects the liver cells from injury. 

Conclusions

• Birds fed Gongronema latifolia leaf extracts had better growth performance than those given a commercial vitamin-mineral supplement.

• The Gongronema latifolia leaf extract can conveniently replace the use of some conventional sources of vitamins and mineral supplements in rural communities where these premixes are not readily available and affordable due to cost.

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Received 1 August 2010; Accepted 11 January 2011; Published 1 April 2011

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