Performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens fed graded levels of fermented and toasted seed meal

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented and toasted Albizia lebbeck seed meal (FTALSM), on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens at the starter and finisher phases. One hundred and fifty (150) day old chicks (Abo acres) were used for this study and were divided into five treatments (with three replicate each containing 10 birds) using a completely randomized design (CRD) for eight weeks. The treatments were five diets containing 0% (control), 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of fermented and toasted Albizia lebbeck seed meal (FTALSM), respectively and were tagged Diet 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The feed intake at the starter phase was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Diets 3 and 4 which had 10 and 15% inclusion of FTALSM, respectively. Diets 2, 3 and 4 also differ significantly (p<0.05) in final body weight and total weight gained from the control diets. The results at the finisher phase indicated that, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in all the parameters measured except for mortality. Birds fed Diet 2 performed significantly better in weight gain (1453g) and feed intake (3087.25g) compared to the control group. Birds on the control and Diet 2 had similar feed efficiency, the values were however, better than those on the other treatments. The results of nutrient digestibility showed birds fed Diet 5 (20% FTALSM) recorded significantly (P<0.05) low digestibility values in all parameters measured. The results showed that fermentation and toasting reduced phytase, oxalate and cyanide by 41.87, 26.67 and 99.94 % respectively. It can be concluded therefore, that FTALSM can be included up to 15 % in broiler chickens starter diets and 5 % in the finisher diet for optimum growth performance.