Citation of this paper

Supplementation of mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaves in Guinea fowls' diet to improve growth, nutrient digestibility and reproductive performance

Clement Gyeabour Kyere

Department of Science, Seventh-day Adventist College of Education, Post Office Box 29, Agona-Ashanti, Ghana
kyere.clement@yahoo.com

Abstract

The use of leaf meal as an alternative feed ingredient to improve production performance, nutrient digestibility and reducing the cost of production in poultry is gaining much attention. This study was conducted to investigate the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of Guinea fowls fed different levels of mango leaf meal. One hundred and sixty pearl Guinea fowl keets aged day-old, were used for this study and lasted for 28 weeks. The birds were fed with diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 % mango leaf meal with four replicates in a completely randomized design. GenStat version 11.1 (2008) was used to perform the analysis at 5 % probability level. This study revealed that, birds fed with diet containing 15% mango leaf meal gained significant (p<0.05) higher body weight, body weight gain and daily weight gain. Feed consumption significantly (p<0.05) decreased with an increase in dietary mango leaf meal inclusion levels. The levels of crude protein, dry matter, gross energy, nitrogen excretion, nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention and nitrogen retention efficiency increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary mango leaf meal. However, ether extract levels decreased with increasing (p<0.05) levels of dietary mango leaf meal. Age at first egg laying significantly (p<0.05) reduced with the inclusion of mango leaf meal in the diets. However, egg weight at first egg increased with decreasing levels of mango leaf meal in the diets. Percentage fertility and hatchability significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing levels of dietary mango leaf meal. This study concludes that, mango leaf meal has the potential to improve growth and reproductive performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance.

Keywords: non-conventional feed, production, feed utilization, energy, nitrogen balance

Introduction

The high cost of feed is affecting the Guinea fowl industry in Ghana due to a reduction in the profit margin. Hence, farmers are searching for alternative feeding strategies such as non-conventional feed ingredients to improve production and reduce the cost of production. Formulating diet with the inclusion of moringa leaf meal (Poku Jnr. et al 2023), neem leaf meal (Kyere et al 2018) and mango leaf meal (Aka-Tanimo et al 2020) reduce the high cost of feeding poultry birds. Feeding poultry birds with leaf meal could partially or completely be used as a substitute for soyabean meal or wheat bran. This strategy could ensure cheaper meat production (Kyere et al 2023).

Mango leaf meal (MLM) is identified as a potential non-conventional feed ingredient to partially replace soya bean meal and wheat bran (Sugiharto et al 2019). Mango plant is known for its fruits, medicinal and industrial purposes and cultivated in ecological zones in all tropical countries (Aka-Tanimo et al 2020). In Ghana, mango plant is abundant and available all year round in all the sixteen regions. Mango leaves contains high levels of benzophenone, flavonoids, gallotannins and mangiferin, and also rich in antioxidant phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity (Aka-Tanimo et al 2020). Rama et al (2019) reported that some foliages and leaf meal such as moringa and mango contains bioactive compounds with numerous health benefits when incorporated in the diet of broiler chicken. In Ghana, mango leaves are regarded as waste since consumers are only interested in mango fruits and the kernel. Despite the nutritive and medicinal value of mango leaf meal, there is scanty information regarding its effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in poultry production.

This study was conducted to investigate the growth and reproductive performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance of Guinea fowls fed different levels of mango leaf meal.

Materials and methods

Study area conditions and duration

This study was set up at on-farm at Dawu near Jamasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, between the period of 1^st May, 2024 and 30^th November, 2024. This study lasted for a period of 28 weeks. The average minimum and maximum temperatures recorded during the study period were 21.35 and 30.2^oC respectively (Ghana Meteorological Agency, 2024).

Harvesting of mango leaves

Fresh leaves of mango (Mangifera indicaL.) were harvested from mango farm near the study area and spread out evenly to dry under sunlight for five (5) days until the leaves were crispy to touch. The dry leaves were milled to a fine powdered state. Samples of the mango leaf meal were subjected to laboratory analysis to determine their proximate composition.

Experimental animals, feeding, treatments and design

One hundred and sixty pearl Guinea fowl keets aged day-old, were used for this study and lasted for 28 weeks. The experimental diets at starter, grower and breeder phases were formulated such that they contained milled mango leaf meal (MLM) at 0, 5, 10 and 15 % (Table 1) with four replicates in a completely randomized design. The birds were reared under similar managerial conditions. The experimental diets and clean water were supplied to the birds’ ad libitum throughout the experimental period.

Table 1. Ingredients and feed compositions (%) of the starter, grower and breeder diets
Starter diets	0% MLM	5% MLM	10% MLM	15% MLM

Mango	0.00	5.00	10.00	15.00
Soya bean meal	19.50	14.50	9.50	4.50
Maize	52.00	52.00	52.00	52.00
Wheat bran	7.00	7.00	7.00	7.00
Tuna fish meal	19.00	19.00	19.00	19.00
Oyster shell	0.60	0.60	0.60	0.60
Dicalcium phosphate	0.60	0.60	0.60	0.60
Vitamin premix	0.60	0.60	0.60	0.60
Common salt	0.70	0.70	0.70	0.70
Grower diets
Mango	0.00	5.00	10.00	15.00
Soya bean meal	18.50	13.50	8.50	3.50
Maize	54.00	54.00	54.00	54.00
Wheat bran	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00
Tuna fish meal	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00
Oyster shell	0.60	0.60	0.60	0.60
Dicalcium phosphate	0.60	0.60	0.60	0.60
Vitamin premix	0.60	0.60	0.60	0.60
Common salt	0.70	0.70	0.70	0.70
Breeder diets
Mango	0.00	5.00	10.00	15.00
Soya bean meal	17.50	12.50	7.50	2.50
Maize	57.00	57.00	57.00	57.00
Wheat bran	12.20	12.20	12.20	12.20
Tuna fish meal	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00
Oyster shell	1.62	1.62	1.62	1.62
Dicalcium phosphate	0.56	0.56	0.56	0.56
Vitamin premix	0.56	0.56	0.56	0.56
Common salt	0.56	0.56	0.56	0.56

Parameters measured

All the attributes measured under the proximate analysis were determined based on the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), 2005.

The birds were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and at the end of the experiment to obtain their initial and final body weight respectively. Furthermore, body weight gain and daily body weight gain were computed. Feed intake was recorded daily. Feed conversion ratio was computed as the feed intake divided by weight gain.

Nutrient Digestibility of Guinea fowls: At twenty-four weeks of age, fecal samples were collected and scales, feathers and fine particles were removed. The fecal samples were placed in an oven to dry at 60^◦C for three days and finely ground through a 1 mm screen. Crude protein, dry matter, ether extract and gross energy were determined according to the procedures described by AOAC (2016).

Nitrogen balance: The nitrogen (N) intake was assessed using the following equation: the total feed intake × the dietary N content of feed. The N excretion was determined according to the analyzed crude protein content of the excreta and divided by 6.25. N retention was calculated by subtracting the N excretion from the N intake. The efficiency of N retention was calculated as follows: N retention (%) = N retention/N intake) × 100 (Belloir et al 2017).

Age at first egg, egg weight at first egg, percentage fertility and hatchability were determined following the procedures described by Kyere et al (2017).

Statistical Analysis

GenStat version 11.1 was used to analyze the data collected during the conduct of this study. The average treatment means were separated using the LSD programmed in the GenStat at a 5% significant probability level. Below is the statistical model used in this study;

Y _ij = µ + α _i + e _ij

µ = The mean of the entire population

α_i= The main effect of mango leaf meal

e_ij= Is the error associated with rep k (0%, 5%, 10% and 15% MLM inclusion levels).

Results and discussion

Proximate composition of mango leaf meal

The proximate analysis results (Table 2) revealed that, the levels of ash, carbohydrates, crude fiber, crude protein, crude fat, dry matter, ether extract, nitrogen free extract, moisture and metabolizable energy recorded in this study were higher than the values reported by Ali et al (2020). However, this study finding is similar to the results of Kumar et al (2021).

Table 2. Proximate compositions of mango leaf meal
Attributes	Mango leaf meal (MLM)

Ash, %	12.61 ± 3.26
Carbohydrate, %	64.21 ± 2.88
Crude fibre, %	16.29 ± 3.34
Crude protein, %	19.56 ± 2.48
Crude fat	2.82 ± 1.22
Dry matter, %	81.49 ± 1.09
Ether extract, %	4.67 ± 1.09
Nitrogen free extracts, %	38.82 ± 4.87
Moisture, %	13.82 ± 1.19
ME, kcal/kg	2055 ± 2.31

The differences in the proximate compositions could be attributed to the differences in the geographical locations. The compositions clearly revealed that mango leaf is suitable for feeding livestock.

Proximate compositions and energy levels of the experimental diets

The proximate composition of the starter, grower and breeder diets are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Nutrients and energy compositions (%) of the experimental diets
Starter diets	0% MLM	5% MLM	10% MLM	15% MLM

Ash, %	5.93	5.77	5.75	5.74
Calcium, %	0.89	0.87	0.81	0.80
Crude fibre, %	3.93	3.95	3.98	3.96
Crude protein, %	22.69	22.61	22.60	22.60
Ether extract, %	4.53	4.56	4.57	4.56
Moisture, %	10.06	10.10	10.13	10.10
Phosphorus, %	0.99	0.98	0.98	0.97
ME, kcal/kg	2849	2860.25	2865.02	2868.25
Grower diets
Ash, %	5.81	5.76	5.74	5.73
Calcium, %	0.91	0.94	0.95	0.97
Crude fibre, %	3.56	3.61	3.60	3.60
Crude protein, %	20.64	20.55	20.53	20.51
Ether extract, %	4.53	4.47	4.45	4.43
Moisture, %	10.06	10.12	10.13	10.12
Phosphorus, %	0.85	0.83	0.81	0.81
ME, kcal/kg	2849	2836	2888	2892
Breeder diets
Ash, %	5.43	5.44	5.43	5.45
Calcium, %	0.97	0.97	0.98	0.99
Crude fibre, %	3.68	3.69	3.67	3.68
Crude protein, %	16.92	16.94	16.94	16.96
Ether extract, %	4.42	4.42	4.43	4.44
Moisture, %	9.94	9.93	9.93	9.91
Phosphorus, %	0.95	0.95	0.93	0.91
ME, kcal/kg	3002	3001	3005	3006

Results from the proximate analysis (Table 3) revealed that the levels of ash, calcium, crude protein, moisture and phosphorus in the starter, grower and breeder diets decreased with increasing levels of mango leaf meal. However, crude fibre, ether extract and metabolizable energy levels in the diets increased with increasing levels of mango leaf meal.

Growth performance of Guinea fowls fed mango leaf meal

The growth performance results (Table 4) showed that birds fed with diet containing 15% mango leaf meal gained significant (p<0.05) higher body weight, body weight gain and daily weight gain and lower in birds fed with the control diet. The improved body weight, body weight gain and daily weight gain observed with increasing levels of MLM could be attributed to the higher crude fibre, ether extract and metabolizable energy content of the diets which were metabolized and used efficiently for growth. The reduction in body weight, body weight gain and daily weight gain of birds fed with the control diet could be attributed to the lower metabolizable energy content of the diets and the lower crude fibre content of the diets which may have affected nutrient digestion, absorption development and function of the digestive organs leading to overall poor performance (Ali et al 2020; Rama et al 2019). This corresponds with the results reported by Poku Jnr. et al (2023).

Table 4. Growth performance of the Guinea fowls fed mango leaf meal
Growth traits	0% MLM	5% MLM	10% MLM	15% MLM	SEM	p

Initial body weight, g/bird	24.37	24.53	24.53	24.63	0.317	0.864
Final body weight, kg/bird	1662.01^d	1695.00^c	1727.30^b	1766.70^a	6.98	0.001
Body weight gain, kg/bird	1637.63^d	1670.51^c	1702.82^b	1742.01^a	6.84	0.001
Daily weight gain, g/bird	9.75^d	9.94^c	10.14^b	10.37^a	0.04	0.001
Total feed intake, kg/bird	3860.72^a	3802.70^b	3760.70^c	3669.32^d	8.86	0.001
Daily feed intake, g/bird	22.98^d	22.64^c	22.39^b	21.84^a	0.05	0.001
Feed conversion ratio	2.36^c	2.28^b	2.21^a	2.11^a	0.01	0.001
^abc Means bearing different superscripts in the same row are different at p<0.05. SEM= standard error of means, p = probability of main effect


Figure 1. Mango leaf meal effect on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio

Feed consumption significantly (p<0.05) decreased with an increase in dietary mango leaf meal inclusion levels (Table 4). The reduction in feed consumption among birds fed with dietary mango leaf meal could be attributed to the reduced palatability of the diet due to the inclusion of mango leaf meal as reported by Poku Jnr. et al (2023). Feed conversion ratio was better with increasing levels of dietary mango leaf meal. This suggests that, birds fed with mango leaf meal diets were able to utilized the nutrients they consumed and converted to body weight. This observation agrees with the finding of Aka-Tanimo et al (2020).

Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen intake of Guinea fowls fed mango leaf meal

The levels of crude protein, dry matter, gross energy, nitrogen excretion, nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention and nitrogen retention efficiency increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary mango leaf meal. However, ether extract levels decreased with increasing (p<0.05) levels of dietary mango leaf meal (Table 5). This indicates that mango leaf is a potential feed ingredient for feeding poultry birds. This also explain why birds fed without inclusion of mango leaf meal had poor growth performance. It is known that a reduction in dietary CP levels affects essential amino acids in the diet and low levels of dry matter affects saliva and stomach volume leading to poor nutrient utilization and growth performance as reported by Liu et al (2021) and Son et al (2024). Again, reduction in nitrogen excretion, nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention and nitrogen retention efficiency leads to stunted growth of poultry birds (Abun et al 2023).

Table 5. Nutrient digestibility of the Guinea fowls fed mango leaf meal
Parameters	0% MLM	5% MLM	10% MLM	15% MLM	SEM	p

Crude Protein, %	62.64^c	62.83^c	67.57^b	67.72^a	0.18	0.001
Dry Matter, %	78.83^d	77.78^c	83.92^b	85.78^a	0.13	0.001
Ether extract, %	88.59^a	88.62^a	84.57^b	84.36^b	0.24	0.001
Gross Energy, %	73.48^c	75.39^b	75.63^b	78.65^a	0.30	0.001
Nitrogen intake
Nitrogen excretion, g/bird	28.73^d	31.42^c	35.45^b	36.89^a	0.30	0.001
Nitrogen intake, g/bird	56.14^d	63.21^c	69.40^b	71.87^a	0.37	0.001
Nitrogen retention, g/bird	26.79^d	30.33^c	34.63^b	39.67^a	0.16	0.001
Nitrogen retention efficiency, %	64.33^a	64.44^a	57.53^b	51.31^c	0.17	0.001
^abcMeans bearing different superscripts in the same row are different at p<0.05. SEM= standard error of means, p = probability of main effect

Reproductive performance of Guinea fowls fed mango leaf meal

Age at first egg (AAFE) laying significantly (p<0.05) reduced with the inclusion of mango leaf meal in the diets. However, egg weight at first egg increased with decreasing levels of mango leaf meal in the diets. Guinea fowls fed with dietary mango leaf meal significantly (p<0.05) laid earlier while, birds fed with the control diet spent more days before commencing egg laying (Table 6). The significant differences observed among Guinea fowls fed with diet containing mango leaf meal treatment groups and the control treatment could be explained that the physiological processes occurring during rearing which underline ovarian function are reflected solely in the body weight and protein nutrition of layers. Hence, increasing dietary mango leaf meal increased fat mobilization for the formation of follicles leading to higher egg production (Poku Jnr. et al 2023). Mango leaves contains high levels of protein. Proteins are the key factors which promote egg laying. Hence, inclusion of mango leaf meal in the diet will increase the levels of proteins leading to early laying.

Table 6. Reproductive performance of the Guinea fowls fed mango leaf meal
Reproductive traits	0% MLM	5% MLM	10% MLM	15% MLM	SEM	p

Age at first egg, days	197.00^a	181.00^b	162.00^c	151.00^d	1.41	0.001
Egg weight at first egg, days	37.00^a	34.00^b	29.00^c	28.00^d	0.85	0.001
Fertility, %	67.00^d	74.00^c	79.33^b	82.67^a	0.67	0.001
Hatchability, %	68.00^d	76.00^c	79.33^b	82.67^a	0.67	0.001
^abcMeans bearing different superscripts in the same row are different at p<0.05. SEM= standard error of means, p = probability of main effect

Percentage fertility and hatchability significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing levels of dietary mango leaf meal. The significant difference observed among fertility and hatchability in this experiment could be attributed to the high levels of crude protein and energy observed in the proximate analyses of the mango leaf meal which play a beneficial role in fertility and hatchability of eggs.

Conclusions

This study concludes that mango leaf meal improve body weight, body weight gain, daily weight gain and ensures effective utilization of feed with better feed conversion ability. This study concludes that, inclusion of mango leaf meal in the diet of Guinea fowls reduce age at sexual maturity and improve reproductive performance.

Acknowledgement

The author is grateful to Mr. Kwabena Boateng the CEO of "God is Coming" Poultry Farm (Dawu-Jamasi, Ashanti Region) who whole heartedly gave his farm and related facilities to carry out this study.

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