Economic evaluation, carcass characteristics and organ weights of broiler chickens fed graded levels of raw tropical sickle pod seed meal based-diets

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal (RSOSM) on carcass characteristics, organ weights and economic performance of broilerchickens in a 9 weeks trial. One hundred and eighty (180) broiler chicks weremanaged on deep litter pens. Six (6) experimental diets were formulated to contain RSOSM at concentrations of 0,5, 10, 15,  20 and 25%, and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. The broiler chicks were randomly allotted to the 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with pen location serving as the blocking factor. Data were collected on final live weight, plucked and dressed weight, cut-up parts and economic performance of broiler chickens fed RSOSM based-diets. The data collected were analysed using a computer statistical package (Statistix, 9.0). Carcass parameters such as dressed weight and dressing percentage were observed to be depressed as the level of RSOSM increases in the diets. Dressing percentage decreased from 78.69 to 52.38% in T1 to T6, respectively. The weight of cut-upparts followed similar trend as above. Thigh and drum stick significantly (P<0.05) decreased from 10.16 to 7.88 g and 9.01 to 6.11g in T1 to T6, respectively. The result of organ weights indicated significant (P<0.05) reduction in weights as the level of RSOSM increases in the experimental diets exceptfortheliverwhich indicated significant (P<0.05)increasein weightas the levels of RSOSM increases in the diets. On economic ground, inclusion of RSOSM beyond 5% in the diets of broiler chickens is not cost effective. This is because feed cost per kilogram weight gain was observed to increase as the level of RSOSM increases in the diets. Feed cost per kilogram body weight gain was observed to increase from N223.84 to N290.18 in T1 to T6, respectively. In conclusion, incorporation of RSOSM beyond 5% in the diets of broiler chickens showed depressive effects on carcass yield and organs weight. Furthermore, inclusion of RSOSM beyond 5% in the diets of broiler chickens is not cost effective. It is recommended that the seeds of RSOSM be thoroughly processed before incorporation in the diets of broiler chickens. There is also urgent need to conduct more studies on the best processing method(s) that will effectively detoxify RSOSM and improve its utilization.