COMBINED EFFECTS OF TWO PHYTOGENIC LEAF POWDER AT GRADED INCLUSION LEVELS ON NATURAL TOXICANTS OF A GRASS-BROWSE LEAF MEAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of two phytogenic feed (Azadirachtaindica(neem) and Morindalucida(morinda)) leaf powder at graded inclusion levels on the natural toxicants of a grass-browse (Megathyrsusmaximus – Leucaenaleucocephala) leaf meal. The experiment was designed using a completely randomized design, with different combinations of Megathyrsusmaximusand Leucaenaleucocephala leaf meal, with the inclusion of neem leaf and Morindalucidaleaf powder at different proportions as follows: TN1(Megathyrusus maximus100%) TN2(Megathyrsusmaximus70% andLeucaenaleucocephala 30%) TN3(Megathyrsusmaximus70% ,Leucaenaleucocephala 25% and Neem 5%) TN4(Megathyrsusmaximus70% ,Leucaenaleucocephala 20% and Neem 10%) TN5(Megathyrsusmaximus70% ,Leucaenaleucocephala 15% and Neem 15%) TN6(Megathyrsusmaximus70% ,Leucaenaleucocephala 10% and Neem 20%) TN7(Megathyrsusmaximus70% ,Leucaenaleucocephala 5% and Neem 25%) TN8(Megathyrsusmaximus70% ,Leucaenaleucocephala 0% and Neem 30%). Phytochemical analysis revealed significant effects (p<0.05) of the treatments on the levels of these natural toxicants. The results indicated that the inclusion of neem leaf and morindalucida powder in the diet significantly reduced the levels of tannin, while also impacting saponin and phytate content. Tannin content ranged from 45.50 in TNM4 TO 76.33 in TNM3, Saponin content was lowest in 0.87 with higher values recorded TN2 and TN3.The values of oxalate content ranged from 0.77-1.65 with the highest value recorded for TN2 and TM2 and the least value in TNM7 while also impacting saponin and phytate contents. The study concluded that Tannin content was higher in TNM3 with lower saponin, oxalate content was lowest in TNM7 and highest for TNM1, saponin content was highest for TNM2. The study recommends TNM4 which contains the relatively low