POTENTIAL OF BROCCOLI LEAF MEAL FOR REDUCING HEAT AND ALTERING BEHAVIOR IN BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This research examined the efficacy of broccoli leaf meal (BLM) in decreasing heat stress and modifying behaviors in broiler chickens. Five treatment diets were created for the broilers, incorporating different amounts of BLM: 0% (control), 2.5% (A1), 5% (A2), 2.5% (B1), and 5% (B2). In the A1 and A2 diets, BLM was added without changing other ingredients, while in B1 and B2, adjustments were made to keep crude protein and energy levels comparable to the control diet.
A total of 150 day-old unsexed broiler chicks were allocated to five treatment groups, with each  group containing three replicates of ten chicks each. Over the course of 42 days, the chicks' body temperatures were measured daily along with behavioral assessments. The findings indicated that a diet with 5% BLM, without protein adjustments, was more effective in lowering heat than the
control diet, while the 5% BLM diet with protein adjustments also provided some reduction, albeit less effectively. The significant drop in body temperature for birds on the unadjusted protein diet resulted in less stress, as indicated by the absence of panting and unchanged activity levels, suggesting that BLM is effective in lower protein diets and a 5% inclusion is advisable