PERFORMANCE AND COST ANALYSIS OF BROILER STARTER CHICKS FED GRADED DIETARY LEVELS OF SOAKEDMUCUNA PRURIENS SEEDMEAL

Abstract

A four week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of soaked Mucuna seed meal (SMSM) on the growth performance of broiler starter chicks. Three hundred and fifteen (315) day old broiler starter chicks were randomly allocated to five experimental diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment was replicated three times having twenty one (21) birds per pen. Soaked Mucuna seed meal was prepared and feeding graded levelsof5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and20.0 alongside, control. The parameters measured and calculated include final weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed to gain ratio and feed cost per kilogram gain. The results showed that the dietary t r e a t m e n t s of SMSM had significant (P<0.05) effect on all the parameters measured. The final weight, the weight gain and feed intake of the birds fed 0.0 and5.0%SMSM were statistically (P>0.05) similar and significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of other treatments. Feed cost per kilogram gain were lower for all SMSM diets, while treatment five (T5) presents the highest cost benefits. It was concluded that inclusion of 5% SMSM in broiler starter diets has beneficial effects on the performance of broiler starter chicks without any deleterious effects.