PERFORMANCE AND COST BENEFIT OF FNISHER BROILERS FED PROCESSED SICKLE POD (Cassia tora) SEED MEAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR DIETARY FULL FAT SOYA BEAN

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the growth performance and cost benefit of substituting full fat soya bean (FFSB) for soaked-toasted cassia tora seed meal (STCS) in the diets of finisher broilers. Five diets were formulated in which STCS replaced FFSB at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels designated as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.  Threehundred broiler chickens weighing between 850 and 869 g were randomly allotted to five diets in replicates of four containing 15 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were provided ad libitum and the experiment lasted for 28 days. Results showed that daily feed intake (79.61 – 97.01g) did not differ among diets. However, daily weight gain (17.33 – 40.11g), total weight gain (485.24 – 1123.08g) and feed conversion ratio (2.33 – 4.65) were significantly (P<0.05) affected. Broiler birds fed diets containing STCS beyond 25% level resulted in lower performance. A cost saving of N13.74was realized on diet 2. It was therefore concluded that soaked-toasted cassia tora seed meal can replace full fat soya bean at 25% level in finisher broiler diets without compromising performance and a reduction in feed cost.