Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Broiler Fed Roasted Pride of Barbados Seedmeal

Abstract

A eight week experiment is conducted at the Poultry Unit of the Teaching and
Research Farm of the Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora using seventy
two day old Marshal Broilers chick obtained from Obasanjo farm, Igboora,
Nigeria to examine the effect of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal on the
performance and nutrient digestibility of finisher broilers. The ripened seeds of the pride of barbados were roasted at 100-1100 C using open flame for seventeen minutes in an open pan. The seeds were considered roasted when about 75-80% of the seed cracked .The finisher broilers were allocated to four dietary treatments. The treatments were replicated thrice at six broilers per replicate. The dietary treatment was formulated with 0, 5, 10 and 15% inclusion level of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal. The experimental layout and hence the data were arranged in a completely randomized design and analyzed by Analysis of Variance. Inclusion of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal resulted in a fluctuation in the final live weight of broilers fed experimental diets. The highest final weight and highest weight gain was obtained in 10% inclusion level of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal while the lowest final weight and lowest weight gain was obtained in 15% inclusion level of roasted pride of barbados seed meal. The highest crude protein digestibility was recorded in diet containing 0% inclusion level of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal, while the lowest crude protein digestibility was obtained in diet containing 15% inclusion level of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal. The results suggest that 10% inclusion level of roasted pride of Barbados seed meal could be effectively used for good performance and nutrient digestibility of finisher broilers.