Bitterleaf (Venonia amygdalina) and Water leaf (Talinum triangulare) in Pullets Nutrition: Effects on Blood Vitamins and Minerals

The effect of bitter leaf (Venonia amygdalina) and water leaf (Talinum triangulare) extracts on blood vitamins and minerals composition of pullet birds were investigated. A total of 456 day-old Isa brown pullet chicks were allotted to four dietary treatments in six replicates in a completely randomized design experiment. Aqueous extracts of bitter leaf and water leaf were used as test dietary treatments for the birds. In treatment 1, a commercial multivitamin (vitalyte) was given in water (1g/L) to the birds to serve as the control. In treatments 2 and 3 aqueous extracts of bitter leaf and waterleaf were given at 100ml/L of water, while in treatment 4 mixed bitter leaf and water leaf aqueous extract (50% each in composition) was given. On the last day of the feeding trial, blood samples were collected from the birds for vitamins and minerals analysis. The observed results showed that dietary treatments significantly affected the blood serum parameters. Vitamin A was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the vitalyte birds. The values ranged from 0.27iu in the bitter leaf birds to 0.37iu in the vitalyte. Vitamin C was more abundant (1.84iu) in the bitter leaf treated pullets and was significantly reduced (1.21iu) in the vitalyte. Vitamin D was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (0.35 iu) in the water leaf as well as vitamin E (10.14iu) while they were highly reduced considerably in the vitalyte administered birds, 0.16 and 4.83iu respectively. On mineral composition, while bitter leaf was the highest Ca (14.24mg/dl) source, K (5.46 mmol/L) and Mg (2.78mg/dl) were highly increased in the water leaf administered birds. Pullets on the control vitalyte had higher Na (132.75 mmol/L) and Fe (1.42g/dl). It can however be concluded that bitter leaf and water leaf as used in this study are potential sources of some vitamins and minerals in pullet chick nutrition.