ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to determine the potential of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaf extract as a nutritional supplement in the diets of broiler starter chickens. Fluted pumpkin leaves (200g) were plucked and crushed. One litre of H₂O was then added, thoroughly mixed and filtered to obtain the leaf extract. The leaf extract was further mixed (diluted) in clean drinking water at the rate of 0ml/litre of H₂O, 50ml/litre of H₂O, 100ml/litre of H₂O, and 150ml/litre of H₂O designated as T₁, T₃, T₄, and T₅ respectively.  T₂ was a conventional supplement (Vitalyte). Five groups of 30 day-old broiler starter chicks (Agritech) were randomly assigned to one of the supplementary fluted pumpkin leaf extract and the vitalyte supplement treatments in a completely randomized design. Each group was further divided into 3 replicates of 10 starter broilers each. All the birds were fed a normal broiler starter diet, but given oral doses (100ml/b) of the leaf extract or Vitalite mixtures daily. At the end of the 28 days trial, results showed that the mean final weight, mean weight changes, mean daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds which received 100ml extract/litre of H₂O (T₄) compared to those of the other treatments. T₄ had a better cost effective value compared to other treatments. Heamatological indices (haemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell, white blood cell etc) did not show any significant (P>0.05) treatment effect. Biochemical indices (serum total protein, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase) were also not significantly (P>0.05) different. It was concluded that oral dietary supplementation of fluted pumpkin leaf extract should be used at 100ml of extract / litre of water for broiler starters due to heavier body weight gain, better feed conversion ratio and cost effectiveness.