Performance Evaluation of Broiler Chickens Fed Varying Levels of Raw African Velvet Tamarind, Icheku (Dialium guineense) Wood Charcoal as Feed Additive

Résumé

A 56-day trial with charcoal from the African velvet tamarind (Icheku in Igbo) wood as feed additive was carried out with 192 broiler chickens of mixed sexes. Charcoal meal was added to the formulated feed at 0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.00kg, designated T^o, T¹, T² and T³respectively. The birds were assigned to the feeds in a completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment. The parameters utilized to judge the performance of the birds were; initial body weight, body weight change and daily body weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, feed cost, cost of broiler production, cost of chicken per kilogram, profit after sale and mortality. Results showed significant differences in performance between the control group and the rest of the trial groups in all parameters except daily feed intake. It was further observed that flatulence did not occur in T¹, T² and T³, while it continued in T⁰. Domestic, green and bottle fly population decreased as the charcoal levels increased. Colour of the litter darkened increasingly from T¹ to T³. Odors from litter also decreased as charcoal level increased. It was concluded that inclusion of charcoal derived from the African velvet tamarind (AVT) wood in broiler rations be limited at 0.50kg per 100kg feed for economic reasons though lower inclusion levels can be explored.