Effects of calcium hydroxide soaked and cooked velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) on the performance of finisher broilers

Abstract

The response of finisher broilers to diets containing pre-calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂ soaked and cooked velvet bean (VB) was investigated. The processed beanmeal was incorporated into broiler finisher rations at 0% (control), 20% and 30%levels, respectively and fed for 28 days in a complete randomized design replicated 4 times. Velvet bean diet caused progressive readuction in growth. At the end of trial, broilers fed 20 and 30% VB diets weighed 98.34 and 80.11% of the control respectively. Birds fed 30% diet had the lowest fed intake value of 4.38kg, which compared statistically with 4.58kg of the control. Birds fed 30% VB diet had significantly (P<0.05) lower feed conversion ration ( 3.02) than the control. Inclusion of 20% VB in the dietsi gnificantly (P<0.05) increased the feed (4.76) of broilers, but allowed better growth (63.00gg/d) and feed conversion ratio (2.73), than the 30% VB diet group. At the end of the trial, birds fed 20% VB diet compared statistically with the control in growth rate and feed conversion ratio. We conclude that pre-soaking in Ca(OH)₂ solution for 84-hr before cooking for 1-hr partially improved the performance of finisher broilers, thus allowing for successful use of 20% processed meal in broiler finsher rations.