Nutrient Digestibility and Serum Electrolyte Profiles of Starter Broilers Fed Moringa and Black Plum Leaf Meals

Background and Objective: The concept of phytogenic in the livestock sector has been in existence since time immemorial, but the discovery of the uses of plant-based materials (phytogenics) came recently due to the need to shift from synthetic materials. The objectives of this study hinge on the determination of nutrient digestibility and serum electrolytes of starter broiler birds fed diets supplemented with moringa and black plum leaf meal. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty days old SAYED strain broilers were purchased from Cosin farms in Enugu State, Nigeria. Fresh leafs of moringa and black plum was used as test ingredients in the project. Five different diets containing the test ingredients in the ratio of 1:4, 2:3, 3:2, and 4:1 represent treatments 2, 3, 4, and 5, while treatment 1 served as the control. Faeces of birds were obtained and processed to calculate the nutrient digestibility, while blood was collected from the birds at the end of the research work to determine the serum electrolyte. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, and significant means were separated by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% significance level. Results: Nutrient digestibility results showed that treatment 1 had the highest value of 81.07% for dry matter, while the lowest value of 74.21% was seen in treatment 3. Crude protein was superior in treatment 1, with the least in treatment 4 (69.57%). Crude fiber increased steadily, with the highest in treatment 5 (73.45%). The highest value of 74.68% for nitrogen-free extract was observed in treatment 3, while the lowest was seen in treatment 4 (70.43%). Serum electrolyte value was superior for calcium with 0.49 mmol/L, which differed from the lowest value of 0.44 mmol/L in treatment 1. Data obtained for phosphorus had a higher value of 6.35 mg/dL in treatment 5, while the lowest value of 6.15 mg/dL was obtained in treatment 1 (control). Sodium had a superior value of 146.03 mmol/L in treatment 5, which varies from the value of 138.14 mmol/L obtained in treatment 1. Conclusion: The inclusion of moringa and black plum leaf meal in the diet of finisher broiler birds can be tolerated by the birds and does not pose any negative effect on the birds in terms of their digestibility factor and serum mineral as observed in the skeletal and bone normalcy of the birds at that stage of growth.