Uchegbu M.C., Okere C.C., Ogbuewu I.P., Okoli I.C., Nwaodu C.H., Ezeokeke C.T., Anyanwu G.A.
Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Uchegbu, M.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Okere, C.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Ogbuewu, I.P., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Okoli, I.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Nwaodu, C.H., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Ezeokeke, C.T., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Anyanwu, G.A., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
The high cost of commercial poultry feeds in Nigeria has necessitated the search for alternative protein sources. Ripe N. imperialis seeds (NISs) were harvested with the pods opened, the seeds extracted, and sun dried for 7 days. A portion of the sundried NIS was milled to produce the raw N. imperialis seed meal (NISM) while, the remaining portion was soaked in water for 4 days, sundried and milled to produce soaked NISM. Samples of raw and soaked NISMs were taken to the laboratory to determine its proximate and phytochemical compositions. Phytate, tannins, HCN, alkaloids, saponins and metabolisable energy value of the raw NISs were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the processing methods used. Birds on control diet performed significantly (p<0.05) better than those on 10% soaked NISM diet in terms of average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio but similar (p>0.05) to those on 5% raw and 5% soaked NISMs. The average daily weight gain of birds on 5% raw and 10% soaked NISMs was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the control group. It is concluded that soaking for 4 days in water do not reduce the anti-nutritional content of N. imperialis seeds to a tolerable level for broilers.