Effects Of Raw, Cooked And Defatted Melon Seeds On Performance Characteristics And Mineral Retention Of Broiler Chickens
Keywords:
Melon seeds, processing, broilers, performance characteristicsAbstract
This study was carried out to determine the effects of raw, cooked, toasted and defatted melon seeds on performance characteristics and mineral retention of broiler chickens. The plant seeds were fed to the birds at 15% level . A total of 200 day old broiler chicks of the Marshall strain were randomly allocated to five dietary groups in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for five weeks. Feed intake was similar between birds fed the control diet and those fed cooked melon seeds , but significantly reduced in birds fed raw melon seed. Body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were higher in birds fed cooked melon seeds , but significantly reduced in the birds fed raw and defatted melon seeds respectively. Birds fed on toasted melon seeds however ranked next to those fed on cooked melon seeds in BWG, FCE and PER values respectively. Nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and iron retention were markedly reduced in birds fed on raw melon seeds. Phosphorus and iron retention were however similar between those fed on toasted and defatted melon seeds respectively. Over all, the best significant improvements in the response indices were obtained in birds fed on cooked melon seeds as the birds fed on the diet competed favorably with the control group. It is therefore recommended that cooked melon seeds are best incorporated into diets of broiler chickens.
References
Akanji, A. M. (2002). Enhancing the Utilization of some Tropical Legumes seeds in diets of exotic meat- type and egg- type chicks PhD Thesis, University of Ibadan.
Akanji, A. M. and Ologhobo, A. D. (2007) Effects of some raw tropical legume seeds on egg quality and laying performance of exotic hens. American - Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 2 (6) 648-654
Akanji A. M, Ologhobo A. D and Emiola I. A. (2007). Utilization of some raw tropical legumes in diets of exotic adult cockerels. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 6 (4), 485- 489
Akanji A. M., Ogungbesan A. M and Emiola I. A (2008). Relative effects of raw jack beans, bambara groundnuts, and benne seeds on semen quality of exotic adult cockerels. International Journal of Food and Agricultural Research, 5, 23-35
AOAC (1984). Official methods of analysis (14th ed). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, D. C.
Apata, D. F. (1990). Biochemical and Nutritional Toxicological Assessment of some Tropical legumes seeds. A Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
D'Mello, J. P. F. and Walker, A. G. (1991). Detoxification of Jack beans (Canavalia ensiformis). studies with young chicks. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 33,117-127
Emiola I. A., Ologhobo A. D., Adedeji T. A. Oladunjoye I. O and Akanji A. M. (2005). Performance characteristics of broiler chicks fed with kidney beans as replacement for two conventional legumes. Moor Journal of Agricultural Research, 4, 236-241.
Essien, C. A. and Udedibie, A. B. I. (2007). Effect of two-stage cooking on haemagglutinin and anti-tryptic activity of jack bean and its nutrition value for young growing rabbit. Proceedings of Nigerian Society For Animal Production, 32,192-194.
Kim Y. S., Brophy E. J. and Nicholson J. A. (1976) Rat intestinal brush border membrane peptidases U enzymatics properties, immune chemistry and interaction with lectins of two different forms of the enezyme. Journal of Biology and Chemistry, 251, 3206-3212.
Lorenzon V. and Olsen, W. A (1992) In vivo responses of rat intestinal epithelium to intraluminal dietary lectins. Gastroenterology, 82, 838 -848
Lutz C. and Pryztuliski K. (2008). Nutrition and Diets Therapy (4th Ed) Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
Nwokolo, E. (1986) Growth and organs Weights of chicks fed on processed pigeon pea Meal supplemented with Lysine and Methionine. Nigerian Journal of Nutrition Science, 7, 78- 80.
Ologhobo, A. D. (1992) Nutritive value of some tropical (West African) Legumes for poultry. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 2, 93 -104.
Ologhobo A. D, Apata D.E and Oyeyide A. (1993). Utilization of raw jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) and Jack bean fractions in diets for broiler chicks. British Poultry Science, 34, 323-337.
Oyenuga, V. A (1978) Nigerian Foods and feeding stuffs. Their chemistry and Nutritive values Ibadan: University Press.
Udedibie A. B. I. and Carlini C. R. (1998) ensiformis seeds - A review: Animal Feed Science Technology, 74, 95 -106
Steel, R. G. D. and Torrie, J. H. (1984) Principles and procedures of statistics. New York: Mcgraw Hill.
