Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Raw and Processed Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan) Seed Meal

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the growth performance of broilers fed raw and processed Pigeon pea (Cajanus Cajan) seed meal. Sixty day old Anak broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four experimental diets containing raw (RPPSM), boiled (BPPSM), toasted (TPPSM) and soaked (SPPSM) pigeon pea seed meal at 25% inclusion level in a Completely Randomize Design. There were 15 birds per treatment group and each treatment was replicated three times with five birds per replicate. Parameters measured were body weight, feed intake, carcass and organ weights. Body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. Results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in growth performance among birds in the different treatment groups. Birds fed boiled pigeon pea seed meal (BPPSM) exhibited better growth performance and feed conversion ratio than birds in other treatment groups while those fed soaked pigeon pea seed (SPPSM) showed the least growth performance. Carcass analysis showed significant (P<0.05) differences in carcass and heart weights but not in gizzard, and liver weights and dressing percentage. It was therefore concluded that boiling was the best method to eliminate the anti-nutritional factors in pigeon pea seeds proposed for use in broiler diets.