Evaluation of Performance and Response of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets with Graded Levels of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) Leaf Meal

Authors

  • Olayinka V. Adelowo Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, N.V.R.I., Vom, Plateau State
  • F. A. Oyedapo Department of Animal Production, University of Jos, Plateau State
  • Olusegun D. Oshibanjo Department of Animal Production, University of Jos, Plateau State
  • Jemimah Danjuma Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, N.V.R.I., Vom, Plateau State
  • Yusuf Alhassan Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, N.V.R.I., Vom, Plateau State
  • Jennifer Y. Dawang Department of Animal Health, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, Plateau State
  • Dauda G. Emmanuel Department of Animal Health, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, Plateau State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33003/sajols-2025-0301-06

Keywords:

Growth, carcass, nutrient digestibility, broiler chicken, pawpaw leaf meal

Abstract

This study determined the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets containing graded pawpaw (Carica papaya) leaf meal levels. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) day-old chicks were brooded for two weeks before being randomly allotted to five dietary treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 containing varying inclusion levels of Carica papaya leaf meal at 0%, 1.5%, 3% 4.5% and 6% respectively. Data collected include nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance measurements. At the end of the experiment, two birds were randomly selected from each of the three replicates of the dietary treatments and were slaughtered for carcass evaluation. The study found no significant differences (p>0.05) in live, bled, de-feathered, eviscerated, or dressed weights, organ weights, and primal cuts percentages across broiler chicken treatments, except for the gizzard weight which varied significantly (p<0.05) among treatments. The inclusion of pawpaw leaf meal at optimum levels (4.5% and 6%) has a positive effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. This is evident by the better performance of birds on a 4.5-6% PLM-based diet as observed in this study. It was also evident from the results that birds on a 4.5% PLM-based diet were able to digest nutrients better than those in other treatment groups. This indicates that the inclusion of PLM at 4.5% in the diet of growing broiler chickens is optimal for better growth and digestibility of nutrients in broiler chickens.

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Published

2025-03-14

How to Cite

Adelowo, O. V., Oyedapo, F. A., Oshibanjo, O. D., Danjuma, J., Alhassan, Y., Dawang, J. Y., & Emmanuel, D. G. (2025). Evaluation of Performance and Response of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets with Graded Levels of Pawpaw (Carica papaya) Leaf Meal. Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA, 3(1), 41–48. https://doi.org/10.33003/sajols-2025-0301-06