Effect of Acacia angustissima Leaf Meal on the Physiology of Broiler Intestines

Abstract

The effect of A. angustissima leaf meal based diets on intestinal physiology and dressed carcass weight was investigated on 150 day old chicks. Three diets, 0, 5 and 10% A. angustissima were used in a three phase feeding programme. At days 14, 28 and 42, two birds from each replicate were slaughtered, dressed and weighed. The weights and lengths of the duodenum, jejunum and colon were measured. Approximately 1 cm specimen was taken from each organ, fixed in formalin and stained for histological analysis. Using a light microscopy, the digestive and absorptive properties of the tissues were assessed. Inclusion of A. angustissima leaf meal increased intestinal wall thickness, epithelial thickness, and villus height of the duodenum (P < 0.05). There was no effect on the proportional weight and length of the jejunum, jejunum villi height and villi width (P > 0.05) but jejunum wall thickness decreased with increasing levels of the leaf meal (P < 0.05). Leaf meal inclusion resulted in an increase in weight, intestinal wall and mucosal thickness of the colon (P < 0.05) and a decline in sub-mucosal fold height and haustra coli width of the colon (P < 0.05). Dressed weight was the same across diets at two weeks (P > 0.05). At four and six weeks, broilers on the control and 5% diet had superior dressed weights to the 10% fed broilers (P < 0.05). It was concluded that for intestinal physiological adaptation that will not compromise weight gain in broilers, up to 5% A. angustissima could be included in broiler diets.

Chemical Composition and Digestibility of Six Species of Fodder (Fabaceae)

“…For example, Tessema and Baars (2006) found values of NDF (46.50%) and ADF (35.4%) in Desmodium uncinatum, which are lower than those reported in this study (Table 2). For the Ash variable, Ncube et al (2017) found values of 4.3% in Acacia angustissima, and Ojo et al (2012) found values of 5.3% in Tephrosia bracteolata, similar to those in this study (Table 3). Ojo et al (2012) reported 13.6% of CL and 2.2% of EE in Tephrosia bracteolata.…”

The Effect of Acacia mangium Leaf Feed on Apparent Metabolizable Energy, Growth Performance, and Carcass Composition of Broiler Chickens

“…This represents an enhanced development of the intestinal segment [28][29]. An increase in the intestinal length could also result from an increase in gastro-duodenal refluxes as triggered by the high fiber content in the leaf meal feed base diet [29][30][31]. In this study, chicken fed with more than 5% AMLM diet tended to have higher gizzard wall thickness.…”

“…The increase in the size of the intestinal segments is a physical adaptation to the presence of the AMLM. This represents an enhanced development of the intestinal segment [28][29]. An increase in the intestinal length could also result from an increase in gastro-duodenal refluxes as triggered by the high fiber content in the leaf meal feed base diet [29][30][31].…”

Variety and phosphate fertilizer dose effect on nutrient composition, in vitro digestibility and feeding value of cowpea haulm

“…Stage of harvesting is noted to significantly affect the deposition of plant cell wall (NDF and ADF). The vegetative growth phase of plants is usually characterised by lower NDF and ADF fraction with higher CP concentration than the reproductive or flowering growth phase [ 21 ]. The differences in NDF and ADF in the present study is an indication that the deposition of structural carbohydrates in cowpea haulms can be influenced by V and P doses even though they were all harvested at the same growth stage.…”