One hundred and twenty day-old unsexed broiler chicks were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments of thirty birds per group. Each group was sub-divided into three replicates of ten chicks per replicate in a complete randomized block design (CRD). Water and respective diets were supplied ad libitum. Chicks in T₁ group were given control diet (0% LMM), while the chicks in groups T₂, T₃ and T₄ were given LMM supplemented diets @ 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 percent, respectively. Weighed amount of experimental feeds were offered to chicks of respective replicate and determined feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio and economics of LMM supplemented chicks.

Carcass evaluation was done at the end of feeding trial of 42 days. Two birds from each replicate were randomly selected for carcass evaluation. Birds were starved overnight to empty the crop and were put in slaughtering trough and the head cut. Carcass analysis viz. live weight, slaughtered weight, de-feathered weight, eviscerated weight, shank, head, neck, heart, liver, lungs, empty gizzard, thymus, bursa, spleen and empty intestine weights were taken in grams and as percent of the live weight of the bird.

Results obtained were processed and analysed using SPSS 16.0 software. Significance was declared at P<0.05 unless otherwise stated. All the statistical procedures were done as per Snedecor and Cochran (2004).

The ingredients (g/kg) and chemical composition (g/kg DM) of experimental diets of broiler starter and finisher chicks have been presented in the Table 1.

Various feed ingredients except LMM were purchased from local market for formulation of broiler starter and finisher diets as per BIS (1992). The LMM of E. jambolana and P. guajava was added in the experimental diets @ 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 % in T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ diets, respectively by replacing maize so as to maintain iso-nitrogenous diets of both broiler starter and finisher. Every other ingredient remained constant throughout the experimental period. The average body weight (g) of entire growth trial at weekly interval in T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups is depicted in the figure 1. Significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight (g) was observed in T₁ as compared to T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups. As the time period of experimental study increased, mean body weights of broiler chicks increased significantly (P<0.05) at weekly intervals.

Data on carcass characteristics and organ weights are presented in the Table 2. Carcass yields viz. live weight, de-feathered weight, slaughtered weight and eviscerated weights in gram and as percent of live weight of experimental broiler chicks were not statistically (P>0.05) influenced by graded level of LMM. Similarly, live weight of different body organs and body parts viz. feather, shank, head, neck, heart, intestine, drumstick and wings did not differ significantly (P>0.05) irrespective of groups. It clearly indicated that dietary supplementation of LMM from 2.5 to 7.5% did not exert any adverse effect on these organs and body parts. Present findings are in line with the results of Mulla et al. (2003), they conducted experimental study on broiler chicks fed 2 % dried leaves of Subabul, Mulbery, Stylozanthus and observed nonsignificant difference in carcass characteristics except weight of lungs.

^abcMeans with different superscripts within a row differ significantly (P<0.05)

However, weights of spleen and liver were significantly (P<0.000, P<0.026) higher in LMM supplemented groups as compared to un-supplemented T₁ group. Spleen weight was found to be highest in T₄ followed by T₂, T₃ and least spleen weight in T₁ group. Liver weights (g) were significantly higher in T₃, T₄ compared to T₁. Significantly higher weights as well size of spleen and liver (gram and %) were observed in T₂, T₃ and T₄ groups as compared to T₁ group because CT having immune stimulating property which might be provoke the size as well as weights of these lymphoid organs.

Dietary supplementation significantly reduced abdominal fat content in T₄ compared to T₁, while, T₂ and T₃ have an intermediate values between T₁ and T₄ groups. Present results are in accordance with findings of Hafeni (2013), who also reported low abdominal fat content when fed A. karroo leaf meal diet containing 5 g/kg of CT in Cobb 500 broiler chickens. Thigh weight (g) showed statistically non-significant difference among all four groups but it was comparatively (P<0.087) higher in T₁ than that of T₄, while T₂ and T₃ have an intermediate position between T₁ and T₄ when expressed in percent of live weight. Breast weight in percent of live weight was significantly higher in T₃ as compared to T₄, whereas T₁ and T₂ have an intermediate values between T₃ and T₄. Similarly, Shafey et al. (2013) reported that the replacement of 15 and 30 g wheat bran/kg with Olive leaves, respectively in starter and finisher broiler diets produces no significant effect on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. The replacement of higher levels of olive leaves reduced carcass eviscerated weight and increased intestinal weight and length.

The presence of CT has been associated with reduced carcass fat in ruminant animals (Purchase and Keogh, 1984; Terrill et al., 1992). A possible explanation for this reduction of fatness has been suggested by Barry et al. (1986) who found a lower level of growth hormone (GH) in lambs when diets were sprayed with Polyethylene glycol. Growth hormone increase N retention and reduce fat deposition, with an increase in fat turn over. The reason for the higher level in plasma GH has been explained with a possible inactivation of gut wall proteins by CT.

The economics of broiler chicken fed with and without CT containing LMM supplemented diets has been presented in the Table 3. At the end of feeding trial of 42 days, significantly (P<0.05) higher total body weight (kg) was observed in T₁ and T₂ groups as compared to T₄ group, while total body weight of T₃ group has an intermediate value between T₁, T₂ and T₄ groups. However, LMM supplementation significantly (P<0.05) reduced total feed intake (kg), feed cost (+) per kg diet and total feed cost (Rs.) per bird in T₂, T₃ and T₄ group as compared to unsupplemented T₁ group. Present findings disagreed with the results of Esonu et al. (2003), but agree with the reports of Nworgu et al. (2003), who observed a decrease in feed intake when broiler finisher were fed diets containing graded levels of Mimosa invisa leaf meal. As the level of LMM supplementation increased the total feed intake, feed cost per kg diet and total feed cost per bird decreased significantly (P<0.05).

^abcMeans with different superscripts within a row differ significantly (P<0.05).

The degree of reduction in the cost of total feed consumed at the end of feeding trial of 42 days was proportional to the amount of LMM in broiler diets. The price of day old chick was + 15 per chick and the selling price of bird at the end of feeding trial of 42 days was + 85 per kg bird. Furthermore, revenue generated in + per bird as well as investment in + per bird were significantly (P<0.05) lower in LMM supplemented (T₂, T₃ and T₄) groups than that of un-supplemented (T₁) group. However, the highest net return or profit (Rs.) per bird was recorded in the broilers fed 2.5% LMM supplemented diet (T₂ group), followed by those fed with un-supplemented control diet (0% LMM; T₁ group), while the least was on the birds fed with 5 and 7.5% LMM supplemented diets in T₃ and T₄ groups, respectively.

Present results are in line with the observations reported by Nworgu and Egbunike (2000). The net return or net profit made in the present study ranged from + 30.41 to 34.24 per bird. The highest profit in 2.5 percent LMM supplemented T₂ group is an indication of good quality diet which led to improved productive performance of broiler chicken. The benefit cost ratio followed a similar trend among all groups, it varied from 1.25:1 in T₁ and T₃ groups fed 0 and 5 percent LMM supplemented diets to 1.27:1 in birds fed 2.5 and 7.5 percent LMM supplemented diets of T₂ and T₄ groups, respectively. Study indicated that LMM supplementation is cost effective in the replacement of maize in broiler feed without deleterious effect on performance.