Growth Performance and Carcass Analysis of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Toasted Albizia lebbeck Seed Meal

Abstract

One hundred day old broiler chicks were used for this study. They were fed on a conventional broiler starter feed for the first seven days after which they were randomly allotted into five treatment groups of twenty birds with ten birds per replicate. A seven week trial was conducted to investigate the nutritive value of Toasted Albizia lebbeck Seed Meal (TASM) on the birds. The test material was included at dietary levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%. At the end of the trial, three birds were randomly selected per replicate, starved overnight, bled through jugular vein, de-feathered and eviscerated. Average feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and mortality showed significant (p<0.05) difference. However, at 0 and 5% dietary levels, there was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the performance characteristics. The carcass parameters showed that 0 and 5% TASM dietary levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher than other treatments in all the parameters assessed. The above showed that the birds were able to tolerate TASM up to 5% level of inclusion, but beyond this, overall performances, carcass characteristics and mortality were affected.