Effects of processing methods and levels of inclusion of Jatropha curcas kernel meal on performance, organ characteristics, haematology and serum chemistry of finisher broiler chickens

Abstract

Three hundred 21-day-old broiler chicks were reared using a 3 x 3 factorial model in a completely randomized design with 10 treatment groups having 3 replicates of 10 birds each. The birds were raised on a commercial starter diet at the starter phase before being allotted into dietary groups in a 21-d feeding trial at the finisher phase. The interaction between treatment and varying inclusion levels of processed-fermented Jatropha curcas (L) kernel meals (JKM) on the performance of broiler chicks was investigated. Jatropha curcas kernels were subjected to three different processing methods, namely: raw defatted fermented meal (RDFM), cooked defatted fermented meal (CDFM) and lye treated defatted fermented meal (LDFM). Each meal was included at varying inclusion levels of 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% such that diet 1 (control) contained 0% JKM while diets 2, 3, 4 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% RDFM, diets 5, 6, and 7 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% CDFM and diets 8, 9, 10 contained 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% LDFM. Feeding differently processed-fermented JKM to these broilers did not (p>0.05) compromise the feed conversion ratio. The results indicated an improvement (p<0.05) in the weight gain of broiler chicks fed CDFM and LDFM at 2.5 and 5.0% inclusion levels respectively. There were significantly (P<0.05) elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and creatinine in their blood serum. The kidney, lungs and proventriculus of birds fed CDFM showed significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatments. Therefore, finisher broilers could tolerate up to 5.0% inclusion level of LDFM.