Effect of Feeding Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) Leaf Meal on the Feed Intake and Growth Performance of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of graded dietary inclusion of subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf meal on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broiler chickens. A total of 180 day-old straight-run commercial broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatment groups, with 45 birds per group and three replicates of 15 birds each. The feeding trial lasted 42 days. The control group (T₀) received a standard broiler ration formulated according to ICAR (2013) specifications, while T₁, T₂ and T₃ received the basal diet supplemented with 5%, 10% and 15% subabul leaf meal, respectively. Feed was offered twice daily, and feed intake was determined from the difference between the quantity of feed offered and the residual feed collected from the feeders. Weekly live weight gain was calculated by subtracting the previous week's body weight from the current week's body weight. Weekly and total feed intake, weekly and total body weight gain and FCR were calculated throughout the experimental period. The results showed significant differences in weekly feed intake, weekly and total body weight gain and FCR among the treatment groups. The highest total feed intake and total body weight gain were recorded in T₀, whereas the lowest values were observed in T₃. The lowest FCR was observed in T₀, and T₁, whereas the highest FCR was observed in T₃. The gradual reduction in total body weight gain and feed intake, together with increased FCR at higher inclusion levels, may be associated with anti-nutritional factors such as mimosine and the higher fibre content of the diet. The findings indicate that inclusion of subabul leaf meal up to 5% did not adversely affect growth performance and total feed intake, whereas higher inclusion levels were associated with reduced feed consumption and poorer growth performance in broiler chickens.