Bolu S.A.O., Sola-Ojo F.E., Olorunsanya O.A., Idris K.
Effect of graded levels of dried pawpaw (Carica papaya) seed on the performance, haematology, serum biochemistry and carcass evaluation of chicken broilers
Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Bolu, S.A.O., Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Sola-Ojo, F.E., Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Olorunsanya, O.A., Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Idris, K., Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of graded levels of Dried Pawpaw Seed (DPS) on growth performance, haematological parameters and carcass evaluation of chicken broilers. One hundred day-old broilers were randomly divided into four treatments groups of diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% DPS in a Completely Randomized Designed (CRD) for a period of six weeks. The results of this experiments showed that there were significant differences (p>0.05) in feed intake and weight gain across the dietary treatment with diet containing 5% DPS having the highest weight gain of 17.58g/bird/day, while birds fed diets with 15% DPS had the lowest weight gain (11.18 g/bird/day), nutrient utilization was higher in birds fed 5% DPS. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the haematological parameters, serum biochemistry and carcass parameters across the dietary treatment. The results of this study indicate that DPS can be included in broiler diet at 5% level. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2009.