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The effects of leaf meals on growth performance of broiler chickens have been evaluated in different studies. However, no consensus has been obtained due to the variability of the results. The present study, therefore, aimed to provide a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of feeding leaf meals on growth performance of broiler chickens. Literature was searched using Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, and CAB Abstracts. References from eligible studies were also thoroughly reviewed to identify additional studies. Keywords used for searching the articles were leaf meals, broilers, growing, finishing, and performance. The response measures extracted from individual studies for analysis were average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), sample size, and standard error of the mean. Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Average daily feed intake, ADG, and FCR responses to leaf meal-based diets average - 4.82 g, - 5.44 g, and 0.40, respectively. Combining the effect size estimates, our data were highly heterogeneous for ADFI (98.57%) and FCR (81%), and a moderate heterogeneity for ADG (65.11%). Evidence of publication bias was visually confirmed for ADFI, ADG, and FCR from the funnel plots. However, using the weight-function model did not show any evidence of publication bias for ADG (P > 0.05). The meta-analysis study has indicated that leaf meals can positively influence growth performance in chickens., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Objective: The objective of the study was to understand and document socio-economic characteristics, production parameters, challenges and management practices used by Fijian households which keep indigenous chickens. Methods: A survey involving 200 households was carried out in coastal and inland communities of Fiji’s wet and semi-dry ecoregions. Data on the influence of ecoregion and location of households relative to the sea on management practices, challenges and productivity of indigenous chickens were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model of SAS software. Results: Irrespective of location relative to the sea and ecoregion, households indicated that they kept indigenous chickens for food and income generation. The Welsummer was the most (p>0.05) preferred breed. Households in the semi-dry inland communities had the largest (p<0.05) flocks compared to those in semi-dry coastal communities and the wet region. Chickens in the semi-dry region performed better (p<0.05) than those in the wet region in terms of number of clutches per year and mature live weight. Predators and feed shortages were the biggest challenges faced by households in all areas. The mongoose was ranked as the most (p>0.05) common predator followed by domestic dogs. Most households in the wet ecoregion’s coastal communities housed their chickens at night, whereas communities in semi-dry ecoregion housed their chickens most of the time (p<0.05). In all regions, no households sold their chickens to commercial markets (p>0.05). Households in semi-dry ecoregion were more likely (p>0.05) to sell their chickens at the local market place. Conclusion: The productivity of local chickens in Fiji is low because of feed shortage, predators such as the mongoose and lack of market linkages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]