Effects of Supplementing Different Levels of Stinging Nettle Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance of Starter Broilers

Effects of Supplementing Different Levels of Stinging Nettle Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance of Starter Broilers

Julius K. Maina1, Roseline K. Kahindi1, James G. Kirimi2
1Department of Animal Sciences, Chuka University, Chuka, Kenya, P.O. Box 109-60400, Chuka.
2Directorate of Livestock and Fisheries, Meru County Government, Kenya, P.O. Box 185-60202, Nkubu.
Corresponding author
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2023.8707
Received: 09 June 2023; Accepted: 22 June 2023; Published: 29 July 2023

Abstract: There is a growing concern by consumers of broiler chickens in Kenya over the injudicious use of antibiotic growth promoters such as oxytetracyclines which has led high tissue residues and consecutively, resistance to the drugs in both livestock and humans. This problem has elicited increased research towards natural alternatives. The current research was thus conducted to determine the optimal dietary inclusion levels of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) leaf meal (NLM) that result to improvements in feed intake (FI), growth rate (GR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of Cobb 500 starter broiler chickens. Four isonitrogeneous (20% crude protein (CP)) and isocaloric (3200 Kcal/kg) diets were formulated; Diet 1 (Control, NLM 0%), Diet 2 (NLM 1%), Diet 3 (NLM 1.5%) and Diet 4 (NLM 2%). Proximate analysis was undertaken for all experimental diets. A total of 48 unsexed chicks were weighed and randomly allocated the experimental diets with 4 replicates of 3 chicks each for 17 days. The FI and body weight gain (BWG) were weighed and recorded daily and weekly respectively. The GR and FCE were also calculated. Results showed that birds supplemented with NLM at 1% had significant mean (162.03g) for FI. Birds supplemented with NLM at 1.5% in the diet had the highest BWG (1930.50g) and GR (113.56g). However, 2% NLM supplemented birds showed the highest FCE (7.98). From the study, it was concluded that supplementing the diets of starter broiler chickens with NLM at 1.5% resulted to the highest BWG and GR.

Key words: broilers, stinging nettle leaf meal, growth rate, feed conversion.

I. Introduction

Antibiotics are used in broiler production for improving growth performance, feed utilization and controlling gastrointestinal pathogens (Langata et al., 2019). This ensures the birds achieve maximum market weights within the shortest time possible usually thirty-five days. However, the recent rise in consumer health consciousness have resulted to an increase in demand for healthy, naturally produced broiler meat (Booth et al., 2021). Further, the application of antibiotics as growth promoters in the production of broilers have been banned in many countries (Ebeid et al., 2021). Numerous research works have revealed high residue concentrations of antibiotics in tissues such as meat and bones of the broilers (Odore et al., 2015; Ferdous et al., 2020; Monir et al., 2021; Mohammadzadeh et al., 2021). Antibiotic residues increase resistance to medications hence difficulties in preventing, treating and controlling of clinical cases in humans and livestock (He et al., 2020).

In order to overcome this problem, more research is geared towards use of phytobiotics in broiler production (Arain et al., 2022). Phytobiotics are a class of natural growth promoters that can be obtained from spices, herbs or other plants (Khan et al., 2022). They are incorporated in livestock feed to enhance productivity through the improvement of feed intake, stimulation of digestive secretions, nutrient digestibility and absorption, immune stimulation, among other benefits (Raissy et al., 2022); thus are potential candidates for safer and natural alternatives for growth boosters (Pliego et al., 2020; Oluwafemi et al., 2020).
Additionally, phytobiotics are reported to have high levels of active biomolecules including essential oils, that confers them with among others, antibacterial, growth promoting, lipid lowering, antioxidant and pharmacological activities (Arain et al., 2022). In Kenya, plant based phytobiotics are indispensable as they are locally available and cheap as a source of healthy leafy vegetables and traditional medicine (Kamau et al., 2016; Odhiambo et al., 2011). The bioactive content and function of phytobiotics are influenced by among other factors the different agro ecological conditions, variety and strain of the plants, processing methods, and growing seasons (Kačániová, 2020).