Effects of Dried Mulberry Leaves Supplemented in Diet on the Performances of Native Crossbred Chicken

Abstract

The objective of the study on the effects on the performances of native crossbred
chicken of dried mulberry leaves supplemented in diet was to examine the optimal level of
dried mulberry leaves to be added in the chicken diet. Three – week-old 120 crossbred
chickens were used in the study. The experimental design was Completely Randomized
Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications, 10 chickens in each replication. The
dietary treatments were control diet and control diet supplementation of dried mulberry
leaves at levels of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%. The experiment period was 9 weeks. The results
showed that the chickens had average weight gains of 1.48 1.55 1.60 and 1.57 kg.,
respectively. Average daily gains were 19.57 20.32 20.75 and 20.96 g/head/day, respectively.
Feed conversion ratios were 2.53 2.47 2.27 and 2.35, respectively. Total average feed intakes
were 7.36 7.69 7.31 and 7.74 kg., respectively. The average costs of diet to produce 1 kg. of
chicken were 96.17 91.88 91.89 and 93.62 baht, respectively. All performances were not
significantly different (P>0.05). Average feed intakes were 3.76 3.84 3.65 and 3.70
kg/head/day, respectively, which were significantly different (P<0.05).