Author(s)

B. U. Ekenyem, B. I. Odo

.

Eighty 4-weeks old broiler chicks (Anak 2000 strain) were used in a 28 days feeding trial to determine the effects of replacement of soya bean meal (SBM) by bambara nut sievate (BNS) on the carcass and organ characteristics of fin- isher broiler chicks. BNS replaced soya bean meal by weight for weight at levels 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% for treatments 1,2, 3 and 4; respectively which were replicated four times in a completely randomized design. Feed and potable water were supplied ad libitum to the birds. Also, ap- propriate medication, sanitation and other stan- dard management practices were strictly adopt- ed. At the 28th day, one bird was randomly picked from each replicate, starved of food for 24 hours and then slaughtered and eviscerated for carcass and organ evaluation. Weights were measured with digital weighing scale. Results of analysis of variance of carcass parameters showed significant (P < 0.05) difference in the final live weight, carcass weight and dressed weight. Birds on 10% BNS and 5% BNS were not statistically different (P > 0.05) in the values above but only varied with birds on 10% and 15% BNS. Other carcass parameters were simi- lar (P > 0.05) in value between treatments. The liver, heart, gizzard and intestine significantly varied (P < 0.05) between their treatments. How- ever, kidney values did not differ significantly. From the results, it appeared that 5% BNS in- clusion is optimal for carcass and organ char- acteristics of finisher broilers.

Bambara Nut Sievate; Soya Bean Meal; Broiler; Carcass

Ekenyem, B. and Odo, B. (2011) Effects of replacement of soya bean meal by bambara nut sievate on the carcass and organ parameters of finisher broiler chicks. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 1, 93-96. doi: 10.4236/ojas.2011.13012.