Effect of Quantitative Substitution of Cooked Mucuna utilis Seed Meal for Soybean Meal in Broiler Finisher Diet

Abstract

This work was undertaken to assess the effect of quantitative substitution of cooked Mucuna utilis Seed Meal (CMSM) for soyabean meal in broiler finisher ration. Seventy-five; 4-week-old Anak broiler birds were used in this trial. The birds were divided into five treatments groups of 15 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD).The treatments had soyabean meal quantitatively substituted at 0, 22.42% (5%),44.84% (10), 67.26 (15%) and 89.68 (20%) respectively by cooked Mucuna utilis Seed Meal (CMSM). There were significant (P< 0.05) differences between treatment means for feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. They decreased as the dietary levels of Mucuna utilis inclusion increased in the diet. The cost /kg weight gain for test diets were significantly (P< 0.05) better than that of control diet. Cut-parts and organ proportions presented as a percentage dressed weight showed no significant (P>0.05) differences. Considering the lower feed conversion ratio for all (CMSM) diets, favourably comparable market weight of the birds fed (CMSM) even at 20% dietary level of inclusion, good cut-parts and organ weights and better cost per Kg weight gain of the test diets, 20% dietary level of substitution (CMSM) for soyabean meal is recommended in broiler finisher ration.