Abstract: One hundred day-old Anak broiler chicks were used to evaluate the optimum inclusion levels of Fermented Parkia Biglobosa Seed Meal (FPSM) based diets on Body Weight Gain (BWG), feed intake, Feed Conversion Ration (FCR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Apparent Digestibility Coefficient (ADC), carcass and organs weight and cost/ benefits of finisher broilers. The birds were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of 20 birds each, replicated two times per treatment with 10 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each treatment contained 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% FPSM replacement for groundnut cake. Results showed that the Body Weight Gain (BWG) was significantly (p<0.05) improved with FPSM inclusion levels in the diet. The BWG was significantly (p<0.05) higher at 100% FPSM when compared with the control and others diet. The feed intake was reduced at 75% FPSM and highest at 0% FPSM (control) diet. The FCR and PER were better at 100% FPSM dietary inclusion with values of 1.59 and 2.93, respectively. The ADC of crude protein, crude fibre and ether extract were similar (p>0.05) at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% FPSM but significant (p<0.05) differences existed among 0, 25 and 50, 75, 100% FPSM dietary inclusion levels. The ash digestibility was highest at 50% FPSM inclusion level and least in control diet but not significantly affected (p>0.05). Carcass and organs weight (liver and gizzard) significantly (p<0.05) increased with increased FPSM dietary inclusion levels while the organ weights (Lungs, spleen, heart and kidney) where similar (p>0.05) among the dietary treatment groups. The abdominal fat deposit was highest at 50% diet and least from the 0% (control) diet. The cost/benefits of production was significantly (p<0.05) save with FPSM dietary inclusion levels in order of 100, 75, 50, 25, 0%, respectively. It was concluded that FPSM could replace GNC up to 100% with reduce cost and without adverse effect on growth performance, digestibility and organs weight.
INTRODUCTION
The cost of poultry feed has been recognized as the major factor affecting the development and expansion of poultry enterprise in African countries (Eckman, 1995). The feed ingredients that are rarely available for human consumption (groundnut cake (GNC) and Soybean) are also being competed for by the livestock sector. This situation has resulted to drastic decline in livestock production with a resultant short fall in protein intake of the people in the less developing countries (Daniel, 1992; Job, 1992). The high cost, scarcity and insufficient supply of conventional plant protein ingredients (GNC and Soybean) have necessitated the need for a search for alternative source of protein for the poultry industry (Daniel, 1992). The search for the least-cost formulation is currently exploring the replacement of these expensive feed raw materials with cheaper alternatives in the formulation of poultry ration. Atteh et al. (1995) suggested that the alternative plant protein should have comparative nutritive value to or preferably be cheaper than the conventional protein sources. The use of Parkia biglobosa seed will reduce the cost of broiler production (Alabi et al., 2005). Fermented Parkia biglobosa is popularly known as Daddawa in Hausa and Iru in Yoruba, a soup condiment in African (Campbell-Platt, 1980). It has been reported that the husks and pods are good for livestock (Obiozoba, 1998). Earlier investigation have mentioned the food and nutritive value of P. biglobosa and other species of seeds (Odunfa, 1983; Alabi, 1993; Omafuvbe et al., 2002; Bridget et al., 2004). However, P. biglobosa seed has been reported to contained anti-nutritional factors (Mohan and Janardhaman, 1995; Alabi et al., 2005) such as oxalate, hydrogen cynide, tannins and phytate. Processing by application of heat, fermentation, cooking, sprouting and enzymatic addition has been reported (Liener, 1989; Alabi et al., 2005) to reduce or eliminate anti-nutritional factors in grain legumes.
There is dearth of information on the carcass and organs weight of broilers fed fermented P. biglobosa seed. Hence, this study was aimed at evaluating the optimum inclusion level of fermented P. biglobosa seed as a protein source in diets for broiler chickens and effect on performance, nutrient utilization and digestibility, carcass yield and organs weight.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted in the poultry unit of Federal college
of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria from the months
of August to October, 2006.
Source and Preparation of Test Ingredients
The seeds were sourced from the college-reserve estate. The P.
biglobosa seeds were cooked over night (12 h) with large pots in open
firewood to softened the seed coats. The seeds were lightly pounded with
pestle and mortar to separate the seed coats from the seeds. The decorticated
seeds were wrapped in a polyethylene bag, placed inside a basket and kept
in a tight enclosure under roof for 5 days for microbial degradation.
After 5 days, the fermented seeds were removed, sun-dried for 4 days and
then ground to form fermented P. biglobosa seed meal (FPSM).
Experimental Diets
Five experimental diets were formulated such that diet 1 (0% control)
had no FPSM but 100% Groundnut Cake (GNC) while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained
25, 50, 75 and 100% FPSM. The experimental diets were maintained from
day-old to 56 days of study (Table 1).
The increased palm kernel cake in the FPSM based diet is to ensure that the same protein content (%) was supplied in all the diets since GNC and FPSM have disparity in their crude protein contents, hence direct replacement of GNC with FPSM would not yield a balance crude protein and energy content of the diets. The low fat, ash and crude fibre contents of the FPSM based diet (Table 2) than the control (GNC) based diets is an indication that cooking, dehulling and fermentation of the locust bean seed caused degradation of the crude fibre, reduction in the ash (mineral) content which resides in the hulls (seed coat) and leaching of lipids in the process.
Management of the Birds
One hundred day-old Anak broiler chicks were randomly divided into
five treatment groups of 20 birds, each having two replicates of 10 chicks
in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) of deep litter system of management
for 56 days. Each diet was offered ad libitum to the birds until
termination of experiment. All routine management operations applicable
to broilers were strictly adhered to.
| Table 1: | Composition of experimental diets fed broilers |
| Premix to provide the following additional micronutrients: Vit. A: 10,500,000IU; VitD3, 2,000IU; Vit. E, 20 g; Vit K3,3 mg; Vit B12 0.05 g; Nicotinamide acid: 35 mg; Pantothenate: 15 mg; Cholinechloride, 500 mg: Folicacid; 1 mg; Riboflavin: 6 mg; manganese; 55 mg; Iron: 55 mg; Zinc: 80 g; Copper: 12 mg;Iodine, 1.5 g; Cobalt: 0.3 g; Selenium: 0.15 g and Anti-oxidant: 70 mg | |
| Table 2: | Chemical composition of experimental diets (% dried matter basic) |
Carcass and Organs Weight Determination
At the end of 8 weeks, two birds per replicate were selected at random
and starved for about 18 h to empty the crops. The were killed by decapitation,
scalded, plucked and eviscerated. The carcass, internal organs (liver,
heart, lungs, kidney, spleen and gizzards) and abdominal fats were removed
and weight and expressed as a percentage of live weight.
Proximate Analysis
The experimental diets and excreta samples were analyzed for proximate
composition using AOAC (1990) methods.
Economic of Production
The economical study was carried out using the input-output analysis
of cost according to procedures of Sonaiya et al. (1986).
Data Analysis
Data generated from this study were subjected to analysis of variance
(ANOVA) using graph pad instat 3.05 for window as outlined by SAS (1995)
and Duncan`s multiple range test (Duncan, 1955) for significant differences
of means.
RESULTS
The proximate values of dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract were similar across the dietary treatments, while the crude fibre, ether extract and ash content of the control diet were higher than those of FPSM based diet (25, 50, 75 and 100%) respectively (Table 1).
The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly (p<0.05) different among the dietary treatments except birds on diets 1 and 2 which were similar (p>0.05). The best weight was obtained from birds fed diet 5 while the least was diet 1 (Table 3).
The feed intakes were similar (p>0.05) among the diets with highest value from diet 1 and least in diet 4. The daily feed intake followed the same trend as total feed intake. Mortality occurred in treatments 1, 2, 4 and 5 and was not influenced by dietary FPSM inclusion levels. The feed conversion values were best at 100% inclusion level (1.59). The (PER) improved with higher FPSM inclusion levels with best value from diet 5 (2.93). Feed cost per kg diet, cost of feed consumed per bird, revenue generated and profit index were best with increased FPSM in diet (Table 3).
The Apparent Digestibility Coefficient (ADC) of crude protein, crude
fibre and ether extract were not significantly different (p>0.05) among
diets 3, 4 and 5. Similarly, diets 1 and 2 were the same (p>0.05).
The highest ADC was in diet 5 for crude protein and ether extract while
diet 4 had the best crude fibre digestibility. Birds on diet 1 had the
least ADC values for all parameters measured (Table 4).
| Table 3: | Performance and cost/benefit of broilers fed experimental diets |
a, b, c, d: Means on the same row with different superscripts are significantly different (p<0.05), Data without superscript are not significantly different (p>0.05) |
|
| Table 4: | Apparent digestibility coefficient of experimental broiler birds fed fermented P. biglobosa seed meal (% DM) |
|
a, b, c: Means on the same row with different superscripts are significantly different (p<0.05), Data without superscript are not significantly different (p>0.05) |
|
| Table 5: | Carcass yield, organs weight and abdominal fat expressed as percentage live weights of experimental birds at 8 weeks |
| a, b, c: Means on the same row with different superscripts are significantly different (p<0.05), Data without superscript are nor significantly different (p>0.05) | |
DISCUSSION
The superior growth performance, nutrient utilization and digestibility of diet 5 (100% replacement) might be due to better amino acids in diets with increased FPSM inclusion levels. GNC has been reported to contained lower lysine (4.18 mg) and methionine (0.18 mg) (Eyo, 2001) when compared with FPSM with 6.79 mg of lysine and 7.42 mg of methionine (Ekop, 2006). This is evident as higher levels of FPSM replacement gave superior growth performance, FCR, PER and nutrient digestibility than at lower inclusion levels of FPSM and control diet, hence, the best protein sparing among the FPSM based diet. This observation is in agreement with earlier reports by De Silver and Anderson (1995) that betters growth performance of birds could be as a result of balance of nutrients and amino acids. Bonnet et al. (1997) reported that a reduction in feed digestibility might contribute to a decrease in the amount of nutrients available for growth. This may be responsible for the low performance and digestibility values of birds on diet 1 and others diet (2, 3 and 4). The superior growth performance of experimental FPSM, especially diet 5, revealed that cooking and fermentation are better methods of processing to eliminate the anti-nutritional factors in P. biglobosa seeds such as tannin, oxalate, phytate and hydrogen cyanide (Alabi et al., 2005). It could also be that unidentified growth factors are enriched during fermentation and further breakdown of crude fibre was enhanced when compared with GNC based diet (control). Enrichment of amino acids has been reported in fermented locust bean seed (Bridget et al., 2004; Ekop, 2006) An increase in the nutritional values of legumes through fermentation has reported by Popoola and Akueshi (1989), Matsui (1996) and Bridget et al. (2004) may have attributed to better nutrients utilization in terns of FCR and of birds fed diet 5.
The significant (p<0.05) increased percentage carcass and organ weights of the liver and gizzards among diets 1, 2 and 3, 4 suggests that the different dietary FPSM inclusion levels promoted the development of carcass and organs weight (liver and gizzards) while similar (p>0.05) increased in heart, lungs, spleen and kidney sizes observed among the dietary treatments corresponds to their live weight gain. The carcass and organs weight of this study agrees with reports of Braodbent et al. (1981) that lower carcass, dressed percentage and organs weight of broilers are resultant of their live weight, since the surface area determine the amount of feathers and visceral organs required respectively.The highest fat digestibility noticed in diet 3 (Table 4) may have transformed into higher abdominal fat deposit recorded in this treatment.
The substitution of GNC by FPSM significantly (p<0.05) reduced the cost of feed per kg and cost of feed consumed. It was also apparent that increasing the level of FPSM in broiler diets could be advantageous at long run in that it resulted in reduction of the cost of feed needed to gain a kilogram of weight. The Economy of Weight Gain (EWG) is used to describe the total financial cost in kobo of ingredients consumed per unit of body weight gain (Igbinosun and Roberts, 1988). Thus ingredients of minimum EWG will give rise to the most economical feed. The most economic feed is in order to diets 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, respectively.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that the FPSM could replace GNC completely (100% inclusion level) in the diets of broiler chicken without any adverse effect on performance, nutrient utilization and digestibility, carcass and organs weight with a lot of financial servings for the farmers.