Performance of broiler chickens served heat-treated fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis) leaves extract supplement

Performance of broiler chickens served heat-treated fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis) leaves extract (FPLE) was investigated. The experiment was carried out during the early rainy season of 2005. One hundred and twenty five day-old chicks of Anak 2000 were weighed and randomly distributed to five dietary treatments A, B, C, D and E which contained no FPLE (control), fluted pumpkin leaves (FPL) no heat treatment, FPL immersed in hot water (100°C) for 1, 3 and 5 min, respectively. Each treatment was replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design. The broiler starters were fed the same starter diet, while broiler finishers were equally fed the same finisher diet. Water and feeds were served ad-libitum. The FPLE is a valuable protein and mineral supplement for broiler chickens. One to five minutes heat treatment of FPLE reduced the concentrations of phytate and tannin by 13.51 - 24.32 and 5.26 - 7.89%, respectively, but had no effect on the reduction of saponin. The results revealed that FPLE served to the birds had significant (P<0.05) effect on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, water intake and cost of feed per kilogramme live weight. Birds served FPLE in both phases had reduced feed intake which was 7.30 and 21.89% for broiler starters and broiler finishers, respectively. The best weight gain was in treatment D in both phases which was 594.55 and 1350.53 g/bird, respectively, for broiler starters and broiler finishers compared to control (565.00 and 1287.03 g/bird). The cost of feed per kilogramme live weight was best for the birds in treatments D and E for broiler starters and treatments B, C and D for broiler finishers. The feed conversion ratio for birds in treatments B, C and D was averagely 2.77 compared to control (3.11) and treatment E (2.90) for broiler finishers. It is advisable to serve broiler chickens 1 - 3 min heat treated FPLE for improved weight gain, feed conversion ratio and cost of feed per kilogramme live weight during early rainy season in humid tropical environment.