CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING BOABAB (Adansonia digitata) SEED MEAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR METHIONINE AND LYSINE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.5264Keywords:
Baobab, Broiler finisher, Carcass characteristics, Synthetic AdditivesAbstract
The effects of feeding baobab seed meal (BSM) as a replacement for synthetic methionine and lysine (SML) on carcass characteristics of broiler finisher chickens was carried out in a 28-day feeding trail. A total of 180 four-weeks old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly allotted into 5 treatments of 36 birds comprising 3 replicates of 12 birds each in a complete randomized design (CRD). The diets were formulated to be isocaloric (3000 kcal/kg) and isonitrogenous (19 % crude protein) with BSM included at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % replacing SML. Birds were reared in a deep litter system and fed experimental diets and watered at all time. Standard routine management practices were strictly observed. The result indicated significant (P<0.05) increase in the weights of breast bird (23.38, 15.94, 21.15, 25.22 and 21.20%) and liver weight (2.90, 5.52, 7.84, 6.22 and 4.51%) for birds fed on baobab seed meal. Birds fed diets containing 75 % BSM replacing methionine and lysine had higher breast weights (25.22%) than those fed control and other treatments diets. Similarly, birds fed 50 %BSM had higher liver weight (7.84%) than those fed on control and other treatment diets. Other parameters measured showed no significant (P>0.05) variation by the level of BSM inclusions in the diets. It is concluded that baobab seed meal should be included in the diets of broilers up to 75% replacement of synthetic methionine and lysine.