Growth, nutrient retention and serum metabolites of broiler chickens fed high fibre hulled sunflower seed cake

Abstract

The nutrient value of high fibre (22% Crude protein) hulled sunflower cake (HFSC) substituted at 0, 25, 50 and 75 for soybean cake on protein was assessed using 180 day-old unsexed Anak broiler chicken. The diets contained about 23 and 20% crude protein as well as 2.95 kcal/g and 2.85kcal/g metabolizable energy at the starter and finisher phases respectively. At the starter phase, inclusion of HFSC above 25% significantly (P<0.05) reduced body weight (BW) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). At the finisher phase, inclusion of HFSC up to 50% increased crude fibre retention while 25% HFSC increased PER. There were significant (P<0.05) reduction in values of glutamate oxumate pyruvate transaminase at the starter and finisher phases. At the starter phase total protein (TP) and glucose (GL) were reduced at 75% HFSC diets, while above 25% HFSC inclusion reduced creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations. At the finisher phase TP and albumin concentrations were reduced significantly (P<0.05) when above 25% HFSC was included. There was significant increase in glucose concentration except at 75% which did not differ from values obtained with 0% HFSC diet. There were significant (P<0.05) decreases in concentration, of creainine and urea nitrogen except at 50% and 25% of HFSC inclusion respectively. At the overall (starter and finisher) live weight and feed efficiency of 50% did not differ (P>0.05) from values obtained with 0% HFSC. This study suggested that not more than 50% of HFSC could replace soybeancake in broiler chicken diets.