Effect of varying dietary levels of Aspilia africana on performance, egg quality and microbial load of pullet chickens

The use of Aspilia africana as a nonconventional feedstuff to reduce the cost of feed has not been fully explored in poultry production. Therefore, an experiment was conducted on one hundred and ninety-two (192) twelve weeks old birds to determine the effect of Aspilia africana leaf meal (ALM) diet on the performance, egg quality and faecal microbial load. The birds were divided into four groups, each consisting of forty-eight birds. After a two-week acclimatisation, experimental diets that consisted of 0% (Diet 1), 10% (Diet 2), 20% (Diet 3) and 30% (Diet 4) ALM substitution of soybean were fed to the birds. Data on growth performance were collected in the first phase, whereas egg quality, laying performance and faecal count was examined in phase two of the experiment. The data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance and significant means were separated via Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The obtained results identified best (p < 0.05) outcome for growth performance and faecal bacterial load at 30% ALM inclusion in the diet. ALM offered at 20% was optimal for overall egg quality, though egg weight at first lay was superior in pullets fed 10% ALM diet. When consumer attraction to yolk colour is the criterion for purchase, preference for eggs from birds supplied 30% dietary ALM is expected.