PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY OF FUNAAB ALPHA BROILER CHICKENS TO DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF ALLIGATOR PEPPER (Aframomum melegueta) SEED MEAL

Abstract

Alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) seed meal (APSM) was included in the diets of FUNAAB Alpha broiler chickens as a phytogenic feed additive to enhance performance and nutrient digestibility. One hundred and fifty (150) 1-day-old chicks were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design into five treatment groups, three replicates per treatment with ten birds per replicate. The birds were fed basal diet containing APSM at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g/kg for 8 weeks. Data collected on feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG) were used to calculate the feed conversion ratios (FCR). Data generated from the experiment were subjected to Analysis of Variance for a Completely Randomized Design using general linear model of SPSS, (2021). Significant means were separated using the Duncan's Multiple Range Test of SPSS software. The results showed that FI, WG, FCR and mortality record had no significant difference across the treatments, however, APSM significantly (p<0.05) influenced crude protein, crude fibre and ether extract digestibility. Dry matter digestibility was not significantly affected, but the values range from 83.11% to 84.07% in all APSM based diet and 80.38% in the control diets, ash availability was numerically affected by APSM with control group (T1) having the second least value (60.79%) while T5 diets had the least (52.81%). Gross energy was not significantly affected but the values were comparable across all treatment groups with the highest (89.96%) in T4 and the least (86.66%) in T3. The dietary inclusion of APSM at 1.0g/kg and 2.0g/kg (T3 and T5), was found to enhanced nutrient digestibility and therefore concluded most suitable for finisher FUNAAB Alpha broiler chicken.