Toxicological Assessment Of <i>Veronia amygdaliana</i> Leaf Meal In Nutrition Of Starter Broiler Chicks

Abstract

In a 6-week feeding trial, Vernonia amygdaliana leaf meat (VaLM) was tested as a dietary ingredient in broiler starter diets. The diets comprised VaLM included at Og (diet 1), 50g per kg basal diet (incorporated at the expense of groundnut cake and wheat offals - diets 2 and 3 respectively) and 100g per kg basal diet (incorporated at the expense of groundnut cake - diet 4). During the study, parameters such as characteristics, blood parameters, histopathology of some organs (liver, kidney, lungs, heat, gizzard and pancreas) and carcass characteristics were investigated. Birds fed on VaLM - based diets performed poorly, the effects of the diet being more pronounced on those fed diet 4. Addition of VaLM to poultry feed significantly (P<0.05) reduced feed intake and weight gain of experimental birds. Blood cellular constituents decreased significantly (P<0.05) in birds fed VaLM - based diets and there were serious histopathological changes within the liver, kidney, lungs, heart, gizzard and pancreas.

Keywords: Vernonia amygdaliana leaf meal, starter broiler performance, histopathology