Effect of dietary mulberry (Morus alba) leaf powder on feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass traits of Kaveri poultry

Introduction

Poultry farming is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Indian agriculture, with the poultry population reaching 851.81 million in 2019, 16.8% more than in 2012 (20th Livestock Census). Feed makes up about 60-75% of the cost of poultry production, and protein ingredients alone account for over 40% of feed cost (Islam et al., 2014) [1] . Soybean meal, fish meal and groundnut cake are expensive, so cheaper, locally available protein sources are needed. Mulberry (Morus alba) is grown widely for sericulture, and its leaves offer a ready source of feed. They contain 15-35% crude protein along with minerals, metabolizable energy and β-carotene (Islam et al., 2014) [1] . Mulberry leaf has mostly been fed to ruminants, because mature leaves contain crude fibre and anti-nutritional factors such as tannin that can limit performance in monogastric birds (Ding et al., 2021) [2] . In broilers, the response depends strongly on the inclusion level. Islam et al. (2014) [1] fed 2.5-4.5% mulberry leaf meal for six weeks and observed numerical, non-significant improvements in weight gain and FCR. Olteanu et al. (2015) [3] reported no adverse effect on performance with 2 and 5% mulberry leaves. Simol et al. (2012) [4] found that up to 30% substitution of commercial feed did not affect intake, growth or FCR, but that 40% or more reduced intake and body weight and raised FCR. A meta-analysis found higher daily gain and feed intake in chickens fed mulberry leaves, but a lower slaughter rate, with effects varying by dose (Geng et al., 2024) [5] . Ding et al. (2021) [2] showed that fermented mulberry leaf powder improved nutrient digestion, daily gain and feed-to-gain ratio in broilers. Feed and water intake show how well a diet is accepted, and FCR shows how efficiently it is used. Carcass traits such as dressing percentage and cut yields determine the value of the bird. Most of the evidence above comes from fast-growing broilers, and it is not clear whether the same responses occur in slower-growing dual-purpose birds. The Kaveri is a backyard strain with low mortality, good flock uniformity and early sexual maturity. Under farmer-managed conditions in Odisha it reached far higher body weights than local birds (Banja et . To the best of our knowledge, the effect of mulberry leaf powder on this strain has not been studied. The present study therefore evaluated 2, 3, 4 and 5% mulberry leaf powder in the diet of Kaveri birds from the second to the twelfth week of age for feed intake, water intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass traits.

Materials and methods

Experimental site

The study was conducted in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Badnapur, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani, Maharashtra, India.

Experimental birds and design

Two hundred day-old Kaveri chicks, pre-vaccinated against Marek's disease, were procured from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kharpudi, District Jalna, following standard procurement procedures. Chicks were individually weighed (35-50 g body weight), wingbanded for identification, and randomly allotted to five dietary treatment groups in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment consisted of 40 birds, further divided into 4 replicates of 10 birds each. The dietary treatments were as follows: T 1 (control, basal diet without any additive), T 2 (basal diet + 2% mulberry leaf powder), T 3 (basal diet + 3% mulberry leaf powder), T 4 (basal diet + 4% mulberry leaf powder), and T 5 (basal diet + 5% mulberry leaf powder).

Preparation of mulberry leaf powder

Fresh mulberry (Morus alba) leaves were collected from the mulberry plot maintained at the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Badnapur. The leaves were shade-dried for three days, after which they were ground into a fine powder and incorporated into the respective experimental diets at graded levels.

Housing and management

Brooders, waterers, and feeders were thoroughly cleaned, washed, and disinfected prior to chick placement. Birds were reared under a deep litter system, with brooding temperature maintained between 26.6 and 35 °C (85-95 °F) for the first two weeks. During brooding, chicks were fed maize crumbles for the initial three days, followed by commercial pre-starter (0-7 d), starter (8-21 d), and finisher (22-90 d) diets. The experimental mulberry leaf powder-supplemented diets were introduced from the second week and continued until the end of the twelfth week. Birds in each treatment group were fed separately, offered feed twice daily, and provided clean drinking water ad libitum. Leftover feed was collected and weighed each morning to determine intake. Standard health care and a routine vaccination schedule were followed throughout the trial.

Growth performance 2.5.1 Observations recorded 2.5.2 Weekly and cumulative feed intake

The daily feed consumption of each group was estimated by calculating the difference between the total quantity of feed offered and the quantity of feed remaining after a 24-hour period. The feed consumption recorded daily was summed over seven days and considered as the weekly feed consumption.

Feed intake per week/ bird (gm) = Total feed consumed/ week Total no of bird

Water intake/week/bird

Water consumption of each treatment group was recorded weekly and average water intake in ml/bird/week was calculated by dividing the total amount of water consumed by the total number of birds in the treatment group.

Water intake per week (ml)= Total amount of water consumed/week Total number of birds per treatment

Feed conversion ratio

Feed conversion ratio of each treatment group will be calculated to determine unit quantity of feed required to gain unit live body weight under different treatment groups.

Meat quality

To evaluate the effect of mulberry leaves on meat quality and quantity, two birds from each treatment group were randomly selected and slaughtered at the end of the twelth week of age.

Carcass yield

Carcass evaluation was carried out according to the method of Pande (2003). Birds were randomly selected from each treatment for carcass assessment. At the end of the experiment, the selected birds were fasted for 12 hours, and their live body weight was recorded before slaughter. Birds were slaughtered by transversely cutting the throat near the head region, followed by complete bleeding and manual defeathering. The dressed weight was recorded after removal of feathers. The digestive tract, head, and legs were removed to determine edible carcass yield, while the heart, liver, and gizzard were weighed separately. Dressing percentage, edible carcass yield, and organ weights were expressed as percentages of the live body weight. The dressing percentage was calculated using the following formula:

Dressing percentage = Carcass weight Live weight

Results and Discussion

Average feed consumption

The average weekly feed consumption of Kaveri poultry birds was recorded from the 1st to the 12th week of the experimental period and is presented in Table 1 Weekly feed consumption increased progressively with age across all treatment groups, and MLP-supplemented birds consistently consumed more feed than the control. During the first week, intake ranged from 84.88 g/bird (T 1 ) to 89.14 g/bird (T 5 ), and this pattern of higher intake with increasing MLP level was sustained throughout the trial, peaking during weeks 9-10 (e.g., 485.00-590.00 g/bird/week across T 1 -T 5 at week 10).

Cumulative feed consumption at the twelfth week was lowest in the control T 1 (4065.23 g/bird) and highest in T 5 (4805.12 g/bird), followed by T 3 (4667.57 g/bird), T 2 (4462.62 g/bird), and T 4 (4281.30 g/bird) (Table 2). Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatments during most weeks of the trial. The higher feed intake in MLP-supplemented groups may be linked to improved palatability, greater nutrient availability, and the presence of bioactive compounds that enhance feed utilization and support growth. This is consistent with Islam et al. (2014) [1] , who reported significantly higher feed intake in broilers fed 2.5% mulberry leaf meal (2700 g) compared to controls (2350 g), and with Safa and Tazi (2014) [7] , who observed increased feed consumption in broilers fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal. Simol et al. (2012) [4] similarly found no adverse effect on feed intake with mulberry leaf powder up to 30% inclusion, with reductions only at 40-50%; since the present study used a narrower range (up to 5%), the absence of any depressive effect on intake aligns with their observations. In contrast, Panja (2013) [8] and Margareta et al. (2015) reported no significant effect of mulberry leaf meal on feed intake at lower inclusion levels, suggesting that the intake response to MLP may vary with bird strain and rearing conditions -a divergence from the present study possibly explained by differences in genotype (Kaveri vs. commercial broiler strains) and inclusion range.

Average cumulative feed consumption

The average cumulative feed consumption of Kaveri poultry birds during the experimental period is presented in Table 2 The cumulative feed consumption increased progressively with advancing age in all treatment groups from the 1st to the 12th week of the experiment. During the 1st week, the cumulative feed consumption of birds in treatments T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 was 84.88, 86.24, 87.18, 88.06 and 89.14 g/bird, respectively. By the 2nd week, the cumulative feed consumption increased to 255.30, 258.92, 262.44, 266.00 and 269.50 g/bird in T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 , respectively. Thereafter, cumulative feed intake increased steadily throughout the experimental period. At the 10th week, cumulative feed consumption was 3045.23, 3347.62, 3502.57, 3581.30 and 3905.12 g/bird, respectively, while at the end of the 12th week, the corresponding values were 4065.23, 4462.62, 4667.57, 4281.30 and 4805.12 g/bird, respectively. The highest cumulative feed consumption was recorded in T 5 (5% mulberry leaf powder), followed by T 3 , T 2 , T 4 and T 1 (control). Statistical analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences among the treatment groups during most weeks of the experimental period. The findings of the present investigation are in agreement with Islam et al. (2014) [1] , who reported greater cumulative feed intake in broilers supplemented with mulberry leaf meal than in unsupplemented controls. Safa and Tazi (2014) [7] similarly recorded the highest total feed consumption in broilers fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal among the treatment groups over the entire experimental period. Martinez et al. (2005) [9] , however, observed a lower feed intake in rabbits fed a mulberry-based diet (102 g/day) compared to the control (144 g/day), a trend opposite to that recorded in the present study, most likely reflecting differences in feed palatability and digestive physiology between herbivorous rabbits and poultry.

Average weekly feed conversion ratio (FCR)

The mean weekly feed conversion ratio (FCR) along with its standard error at different weeks of age is presented in Table 3 The feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed variation among the different treatment groups throughout the experimental period. During the 1st week, the FCR values recorded for treatments T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 were 1.43, 1.36, 1.30, 1.35 and 1.32, respectively. By the 10th week, the corresponding FCR values increased to 2.85, 2.96, 2.85, 2.86 and 2.88, respectively. At the end of the 12th week, the FCR values were 2.93, 2.97, 2.95, 2.81 and 2.87 for T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅, respectively. Overall, the feed conversion ratio ranged from 0.96 to 3.51 during the entire experimental period. Statistical analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences among the treatment groups at different weeks of age. The improved feed conversion observed at the higher mulberry leaf powder inclusion levels, particularly T 4 (4% MLP), may be attributed to enhanced nutrient digestibility and better utilization of nutrients resulting from the inclusion of mulberry leaf powder in the basal diet. These findings are supported by Simol et al. (2012) [4] , who reported a superior FCR (1.25) in broilers fed 30% mulberry leaf powder compared to the control (1.28), and by Islam et al. (2014) [1] , who recorded the best FCR (1.67) [10] , however, observed that FCR became progressively poorer as mulberry leaf meal level increased from 10% (2.37) to 20% (2.67) and 30% (2.77), indicating that excessively high inclusion levels can impair rather than improve feed conversion efficiency; a similar tendency was reflected in the present study, where T 5 recorded a slightly poorer FCR than T 4 at the highest inclusion level tested. Kamruz Zaman et al. (2014), working with laying hens, reported no significant effect of mulberry leaf meal on feed conversion ratio, suggesting that the physiological stage of the birds may also influence the FCR response to mulberry leaf powder supplementation.

Average cumulative water intake

The average cumulative water intake of Kaveri poultry birds fed with different levels of mulberry leaf powder was presented in Table 4 The cumulative water intake increased gradually with advancing age in all treatment groups throughout the experimental period. During the 1st week, the cumulative water intake in treatments T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 was 192, 181, 185, 189 and 195 ml/bird, respectively. By the 10th week, the corresponding values increased to 1439, 1438, 1448, 1461 and 1504 ml/bird, respectively. At the end of the 12th week, cumulative water intake reached 1502, 1524, 1558, 1578 and 1614 ml/bird, respectively. The highest cumulative water intake was recorded in T 5 , whereas the lowest was observed in the control (T 1 ) group. Statistical analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences among the treatment groups during the experimental period. The gradual increase in water intake observed in the present study might have been associated with increased body weight, feed consumption, and metabolic activity of the birds, while the inclusion of mulberry leaf powder did not adversely affect water consumption. These findings are broadly supported by Madavi et al. (2019) [11] , who recorded significantly higher total water intake (7255.7 ml) in broilers fed 1% moringa-lemongrass leaf meal mixture compared to lower-level and control groups (6132-6577 ml), reflecting a similar pattern of increasing intake with rising supplementation level. Raut (2016) [12] also reported a progressive increase in water consumption with increasing probiotic supplementation. Das et al. (2021) [13] , working specifically with mulberry leaf powder in Vanaraja birds, found that water intake was not significantly altered at 1.5% and 3.0% inclusion levels compared to the control; the significant treatment effect observed in the present study may therefore be related to the comparatively higher inclusion levels (up to 5%) and longer feeding duration (12 weeks) used here. Kalia et al. (2017) [14] further reported that water intake in broilers can vary with genetic strain, indicating that the response observed in the present study is influenced by both dietary treatment and the inherent physiology of Kaveri birds.

Dressing percentage

The average carcass traits of Kaveri poultry birds fed diets containing different levels of mulberry leaf powder are presented in Table 5 Dietary supplementation of mulberry leaf powder significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved carcass characteristics. Live body weight, hot carcass weight, and dressing percentage increased progressively with increasing levels of mulberry leaf powder, with the highest values recorded in T 5 (5% MLP), followed by T 4 , T 3 , T 2 , and the lowest in T 1 (control). This improvement may be attributed to better nutrient utilization and enhanced muscle development due to the bioactive components of mulberry leaves. Breast, drumstick, thigh, wing, neck, back, and giblet percentages showed significant improvement with increasing MLP inclusion. The relative weights of liver, heart, and gizzard remained within the normal physiological range, indicating healthy organ development. Abdominal fat percentage increased from 1.82% in T 1 to 2.30% in T 5 , which requires further investigation regarding its association with MLP supplementation. The superior carcass yield and meat cut characteristics observed in T 5 indicate the beneficial effect of 5% mulberry leaf powder supplementation. The present findings differ from Hassan et al. (2016) and Etalem et al. (2014), who reported no improvement or reduced carcass traits with Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation. However, the results agree with Guler et al. (2006) [15] , who observed improved carcass traits with phytogenic feed additives. The variation may be due to differences in plant source, bioactive composition, inclusion level, and bird genotype.

Conclusion

Dietary supplementation of mulberry (Morus alba) leaf powder at 2-5% improved live weight and carcass yield in Kaveri poultry in a dose-dependent manner. Feed and water intake rose with MLP level.

References

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