Abstract
The potential for the utilization of Mucuna seeds as an alternative source of protein was evaluated by presoaking in water then in sodium bicarbonate solution + boiling treatment on the one hand and isolating protein technique on the second hand on the growth and hematological performances of broilers. A total of 135 one-day-old Cobb<sub>500</sub> broilers, divided into three groups of 45 animals each were randomly allocated to three treatment diets with 3 replicates (n=15/replicate) each per treatment and fed <i>ad libitum</i> with three iso-protein diets: Diet 1 (RTS) given to the Control batch contained soya bean meal and this principal protein source was completely replaced by <i>M. pruriens</i> seeds meal in Diet 2 (RFM) and by protein isolated from <i>M. pruriens</i> in Diet 3 (RIM) given to batches 2 and 3 respectively. Results revealed that FI, ADG, PER, Carcass yield, Hb and Hct were comparable but significantly (p<0.05) low in broilers fed RFM (77.01 g/26.16 g/1.99/68.69%, 11.98 g/dL/28.46% respectively) and RIM (76.98 g/25.88 g/2.08/67.61%, 12.05 g/dL/28.28% respectively) diets and also in all characteristics of the digestive tract. The inverse trend i.e. highest (p<0.05) but comparable values of Heart (0.74 g/RFM; 0.77 g/RIM) was observed in these same animals; Birds fed RIM diet registered the lowest (p<0.05) BWG (711.04 g) and LW (799.65 g) but the highest (p<0.05) FCR (3.45). These results suggest that meal and protein isolate of <i>M. pruriens</i> seeds could be valorised in broiler diet subject to further investigations in growth-finishing phase.
Highlights
Breeding of short-cycle animal species is a survival strategy for the poor [1, 3] and it requires few resources and can be practiced by all socio-professional categories
This study reports the effect of dietary inclusion of presoaking in water in sodium bicarbonate solution + boiling treatment on the one hand and isolating protein technique on the second hand of M. pruriens seeds on the growth and hematological performances of broilers
The non-significant weight evolution observed in all broilers in this study in all treatments is an indication that such protein types were of good quality and were tolerable by the broiler chicks
Summary
Breeding of short-cycle animal species is a survival strategy for the poor [1, 3] and it requires few resources and can be practiced by all socio-professional categories. In this case, modern poultry farming is a source of food (meat, eggs) and income for producers; it contributes effectively to ensuring sustainable food security and poverty reduction [4]. High cost of conventional protein feed ingredients like soybean, fish meal and groundnut cake has caused the search for alternatives plant protein sources such as Mucuna pruriens a wild-type legume grains which has been identified as a potential source of protein and energy for poultry production in developing countries [9, 10].
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