Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Mucuna pruriens Seeds on Zootechnical Performance and Economic Profitability of Cobb 500 Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Background and Objective: The search for local and cost-effective alternatives to conventional protein sources, including roasted soybeans, soybean meal, cottonseed meal and fish meal, remains important for improving the sustainability and profitability of poultry production in Burkina Faso. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating boiled and shelled Mucuna pruriens seeds (GMP-bd) into broiler diets on zootechnical performance, carcass characteristics, hematocrit levels and economic profitability.

Materials and Methods: A 49-day feeding trial was conducted using 300 one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks with an average initial body weight of 40 g. The chicks were assigned to a randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising three blocks of 100 chicks each. Each block was subdivided into four dietary treatments, with 25 chicks per treatment, receiving isoenergetic and isoproteic diets containing 0, 2.5, 5, or 7.5% boiled and shelled M. pruriens seeds, respectively. The GMP-bd was incorporated as a partial substitute for roasted soybeans. Zootechnical performance, including weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality, as well as carcass characteristics, internal organs, hematocrit levels and economic profitability, were evaluated.

Results: The incorporation of GMP-bd into the diets improved weight gain, with a significant difference (p<0.05) between the control group and the group receiving 7.5% GMP-bd, with the latter showing greater weight gain. The inclusion of GMP-bd did not significantly affect (p>0.05) overall feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or mortality rate. Similarly, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed among dietary treatments in carcass characteristics, internal organ weights, or hematocrit levels. Economic analysis showed that net profit per chicken increased with GMP-bd inclusion and was highest at the 7.5% inclusion level, reaching 748.13 FCFA per chicken.

Conclusion: Boiled and shelled Mucuna pruriens seeds can be incorporated into broiler diets at inclusion levels of up to 7.5% as a partial substitute for roasted soybeans without adversely affecting feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, carcass characteristics, internal organs, or hematocrit levels. The 7.5% inclusion level was associated with improved weight gain and the highest net profit per chicken, indicating its potential as a locally available and economically viable protein resource for broiler production in Burkina Faso.