Umoren U.E., Isika M.A., Asanga E.P., Ezeigwe P.N.
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Swaziland
Umoren, U.E., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Isika, M.A., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria, Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Swaziland; Asanga, E.P., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Ezeigwe, P.N., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria
The aim of the study was to assess the replacement value of earth ball for maize in broiler diets. A feeding trial was conducted for eight weeks using 220 unsexed Anak 2000 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design to assess the effect of replacement of maize with Icacinia manni meal at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% on the performance. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, containing 24% crude protein and 3095 Kcal kg -1 ME in the starter ration and 21% crude protein and 3204 Kcal kg -1 ME in the finisher mash. The birds were randomly distributed into 5 treatments with two replicates containing 22 birds each making a total of 44 birds per treatment. Results showed that in the starter phase, dietary treatments had significantly (p<0.05) least feed intake, body weight gain in the 45 and 60% Icacinia manni meal diets, but not significantly (p>0.05) different in mortality and feed conversion ratio. Significant differences (p<0.05) were also observed in feed intake and body weight gain in the finisher phase. Birds on 0 and 15% Icacinia manni meal diets consumed more feed and were heavier (p<0.05) than those on 30, 45 and 60% Icacinia meal diets. Mortality and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different (p>0.05) at the finisher phase. Birds on 0 and 15% Icacinia meal inclusion exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher dressed weight, kidney, liver, lung, shank, intestine, neck and gizzard weights. The study concludes that Icacinia manni meal could replace maize up to 15% in broiler diets without deleterious effect on performance, which holds great potential as feed ingredient in poultry nutrition. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.