Growth Response and Cost Benefit Analysis of Starter Broiler Birds Fed Supplemental Levels of Black Plum Leaf Meal (A case study in Ishiagu, Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state).

Abstract—A research work was carried out to determine the influence of Black plum leaf meal on the growth performance and cost benefit analysis of starter broiler birds. Ninety-six (96) day old ‘Sayeed’ broiler birds were used for the research work. The birds were brooded for a week after which they were randomly distributed into four treatment group of twenty-four each been replicated three times with eight birds per replicate. Four different diets were formulated such that the black plum leaf meal was incorporated into the diets at the rate of 2.00%, 4.00% and 6.00% respectively, while treatment 1 served as the control with 0% level of Black plum leaf meal. Feed and water were given ad-libitum throughout the experimental period of twenty-one days. Proximate composition of the Black plum leaf meal was carried out. Birds on control diet was superior to birds in other treatments in terms of final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, which was followed closely by those of birds in treatment 3 (4%bplm). Thus, birds in treatment 1 (control) had better performance among the treatments under review. Thus, black plum leaf meal can be added into the diet of starter broiler birds up-to the level of 6% without any detrimental effect on the bird’s performance. Result for cost benefit analysis showed that birds in treatment 3 had the highest (P<0.05) profit of #528.54 when compared to the other treatments under review.