Responses of broilers to dietary levels of processed Detarium microcarpum (Guill and sperr) seed meal

C O Obun, M S Yahaya* and A A Kibon**

Animal Production Technology Department, Federal college of wildlife Management,
P.M.B. 268, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
obunotu@yahoo.com
* Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
** Department of Animal Science, University of Maidugri

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty five day-old ‘Sayed’ broiler chicks were used to assess the performance, feed cost and nutrient retention of cooked Detarium microcarpum seed meal (DMSM) diets as protein supplement replacing groundnut cake. Five treatment diets (DM0, DM5, DM10, DM 15 and DM20) that contained 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% cooked DMSM at 80 minutes duration, respectively were randomly assigned to five groups of 45 birds, each replicated three times in a completely randomized design (CRD). 

There were no  differences among the treatment diets in all the performance and nutrient retention parameters measured. It is concluded that D.microcarpum seed meal afer boiling for 80 minutes could be incorporated at up to 20 % inclusion level in starter chicks’ diets without adverse effect on performance. Further research beyond 20 % inclusion level is therefore recommended.

Key words: Boiling, feed conversion, growth rate, nutrient retentions

Introduction

In Nigeria there is inadequate supply of grains, grain by- products, oil-seed cakes and other agro-industrial wastes to sustain small and medium scale poultry production. There is need to explore and provide information on many non-conventional feed ingredients that abound in our environment, with a view to ascertaining their suitability in poultry rations. This need has arisen because of the high cost of the conventional feed ingredients such as soybean cake, groundnut cake, maize and fishmeal as well as the desire to diversify and expand the feed raw materials resource base for poultry ration formulation (Abeke et al 2008). The solution to this problem of animal protein shortage in Nigeria lies in the production of fast maturing animals with the utilization of cheap and locally available feedstuffs with high nutritive value and digestibility. One of such cheap and locally available ingredient is Detarium microcarpum seeds. Okorie and Amechi (2003); Apata and Miachi (2004); Anhwange et al (2004); Umar et al (2007) and Uhegbu et al (2009) reported that D. microcarpum seed makes a balanced food as it contains sufficient quantities of carbohydrate (39-66%), protein (17-36%) and fats (10-17%) with relatively adequate proportions of lysine and  methionine as percentage of the protein (2.14 and 1.0% respectively).

Like other legume seeds, D.microcarpum is also limited by the presence of anti nutritional factors (ANF) which interfere with the utilization by monogastric animals (Anhwange et al 2004; Umar et al 2007 and Uhegbu et al 2009). These ANFs such as saponin, phytic acid, oxalate, hydrogen cyanide, alkaloids and flavonoid have been reported to results in poor growth, feed conversion efficiency, changes in some organs, haematological, biochemical, serum enzymes and even cause mortality when raw legume seeds are fed to monogastrics (Esonu et al.2001; Sadeghi et al 2004;Obun et al 2008). These ANFs can be eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum through adequate heating of the seeds. However, it is a common knowledge that legume seeds generally require long cooking time for tenderization and the period varies from one legume to the other (Ukpabi et al (2008). Cooking improves the nutritive value by destroying most of the ANFs (Amaefule and Obioha 2001) and utilization of protein and energy in the legumes (Kankuka et al 2000 and Abeke et al 2008).

Cooking process is common, simple and easy to adopt, cheap and effective (Abeke and Otu 2008). This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary cooked DMSM on the growth performance, nutrient utilization and digestibility coefficient of starter broiler chicks and cost/benefit of diets substitute. 

Materials and Methods

Experimental site

This study was conducted in the poultry unit of Teaching and Research Farm of Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger state, Nigeria. The building is of open sided type that permits cross-ventilation in the animal house, with a concrete floor and zinc-roofing sheet. It is located between latitude 70 80´northern parts of the country and 100 00´N longitudes 40 30´ and 40 33´E. The temperature and relative humidity averaged 34^oC and 60 % during the period of the study.

Source and processing of seeds

Dry Detarium microcarpum fruits were collected from New Bussa and Ibbi, Niger State, Nigeria. The fruits were cracked open to collect the seeds. The seeds were cleaned of dirt before processing. Water was boiled (100⁰C) under open drum using fuel wood fire before the seeds were poured into boiling water  and allowed to cook for 1hr 20 minutes. The cooked seeds were partially dehulled to remove the seed coats, washed and sun-dried and milled with a grinding machine and referred to as Detarium microcarpum seed meals (DMSM).  

Diets

Five (5) diets were formulated at different inclusion levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% DMSM, respectively supplementing GNC component and presented as diets DM0, DM5, DM10, DM 15 and DM20 (Table 1).

Birds and Experimental design

225 day-old unsexed ‘Sayed’ broiler chicks starter were purchased from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The birds were randomly divided into five treatments of 45 birds each, replicated three times (15 birds each) in a complete randomized design (CRD).  

Management of experimental birds

Birds were raised under deep litter system of management using 2.5×1m pen sizes. The house with the foot dip at the entrance was disinfected 2 weeks prior to stocking of the chicks. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum while vaccination and medications were strictly adhered to as recommended by the broiler breeders’ company. The chicks were brooded on papers spread on the floor for the first 7 days and later wood shavings were used till the end of the experiment. Electric heat was supplied using 200 watts bulb for the first four weeks with the room temperature maintained between 28-32⁰C.The lamps heights were adjusted (2⁰C) weekly to control (reduce) the heat. The birds were also prophylactically treated against bacterial infection at the second week using Terramycin (chick formula) soluble powder (50g in 50 liters) and against coccidiosis using embazin forte at 30g per 50 liters water on the 18th day. At the third and fourth week, birds were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease using Lasota and Gumboro using Gumboro vaccine. 

The chickens had ad libitum access to feed and water. Initial body weight before commencement of the trial and weekly thereafter was recorded while feed fed and left over every morning before fresh feed is served was also taken. The growth performance and nutrient utilization indices were determined according to Aduku (2004) methods. 

Nutrient retention study

 Nutrient retention study was carried out at the end of 4^th week of the experiment. Three birds per replicate were randomly selected and transferred to metabolic cages for five days adaptation period, followed by a 12 hours fasting and five days total collections of droppings. The droppings were oven dried, bulked and representative samples taken for chemical analysis. The percentage nutrient retention (dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and ash) was computed individually using the formula of Aduku (2004).  

 Mortality

Percentage mortality was determined by recording each dead bird in each replicate and the total in each treatment was divided by the original number of birds allocated to each treatment and multiplied by 100.

 Chemical assay

The proximate components (crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, ash and moisture) and mineral fractions (Ca and P) of the experimental diets and faecal droppings were analyzed according to AOAC (2006) procedure. Acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were determined according to Van Soest et al (1991) methods.

Statistical analysis:

Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 15.0 of window 2007 model. Statistical Means were separated using Obi (1990) method.

Results and Discussion
 

The supplementation of DMSM in the diets resulted in an increase in the CF contents, from 4.20% in diet DM0 to 4.80% in diet DM20 Similarly, there was a corresponding increase in the ash, ether extract, NDF, ADF and energy concentrations with increase in DMSM inclusion levels in the diets. The proximate analysis of the diets is in line with recommended value of 23.3% crude protein for 0-4 week old broilers and fibre fractions of the diets (Obioha 1992 and Aduku 1993).    

Daily feed intake and weight gain. DM feed conversion as well as the daily protein intake of chicks were not  affected by the level of cooked DM seed (Table 3). This result was different to that in an earlier report by Obun (2007) that processing of detarium seed meal by cooking for 1 hour resulted in partial detoxification with resultant relatively poor performance of broiler chicks which limited the dietary inclusion to 10 %.  The extra cooking time (for 1h 20 minutes) maybe the explanation for the difference. 

Nutrient retentions of dry matter (DM), crude protein, crude fibre, ash, ether extract and nitrogen free extract (NFE) were not  affected across the treatments, which confirms the efficacy of the cooking duration on the nutritive value of DMSM. 

 Conclusions

• The results revealed that 80 minute cooking time of detarium seeds meal appeared to neutralize the non-nutritional factors such that levels of 20% of the diet had no negative effect on growth rate and feed conversion. It is recommended that levels of cooked DMSM exceeding 20% in broiler starter diets should be investigated.
   

References

Abeke F O, Ogundipe S O, Sekoni A A, Abu A and Adeyinka I A 2008 Effects of dietary levels on the levels of some anti nutritional factors of some Lablab purpureus beans heat. Nigerian Journal. Animal Production, 35(2):217-223 

Abeke F O and Otu M 2008  Anti-nutrients in poultry feed. In proceedings of the 13^th Annual Conference of Animal Science Association of Nigeria.(ASAN), Sept.15-19^thABU, Zaria 396-399

Aduku A O 1993 Tropical feedstuffs analysis Table.ABU, Samaru,Zaria

Aduku O A 2004 Animal nutrition in the tropics: Feed and feeding, pasture management, monogastric and ruminant nutrition. Devon Publications, Kaduna 140pp.

Amaefule K U and Obioha F C 2001 Performance and nutrient utilization of broilers starters fed diets containing raw, boiled or dehulled pigeon pea seeds (Cajacnus cajan), Nigeria Journal of Animal Production 28(1):31-39

Anhwange B A, Ajibola V O and Oniye S J 2004 Chemical studies of seeds of Moringa Oleifera and Detarium microcarpum seeds. Journal of Biological Sciences, Asia 4(6):711-715.

AOAC 2006 Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC (W. Horwitiz, Editor), 18^thed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington D.C, USA.

Apata M I and Miachi O E 2004  Proximate composition and functional properties of Detarium microcarpum. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 56(4);297-302.

Esonu B O,  Emenalom O O, Udedibie A B I, Herbert U, Ekpor C F, Okoli I C and Iheukwumere F C 2001 Performance and blood chemistry of weaner pigs fed raw Mucuna bean (Velvet bean) meal. Tropical Animal Production, (4): 49 -54.

Kaankuka F G, Balogun T F and Yaakugh I D I 2000 Effect of duration of cooking of full fat soybean on dry matter digestibility and energy utilization by young pigs. Proceedings of Annual Conference of Nigeria Society for Animal Production 191-193

Lesson S N 2000 Is feed efficiency still a useful measure of broiler performance?. Department of Animal  and poultry Science, University of Guelph. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Canada.

Nahason S N, Adefope A, Amenyenu A  and Wright D 2005 Effect of dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers. Poultry Science. 84.337-344 .

Nahason S N, Adefope A, Amenyenu A  and Wright D 2006 Effect of varying metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations in diets of pearl gray guinea fowl pullets and growth performance. Poultry Science, 85:1847-1854.

Obi I U 1990 Statistical methodology of detecting differences between treatment means. 2^nd edn. Snap press, Enugu, Nigeria, 25-85

Obun C O 2007 Response of starter broiler chicks fed differently processed Detarium microcarpum seed meal. In: E. A. Agiang, L. N. Agwunobi and O. O. Olawoyin (Editors). In Proceedings of 32^nd  Annual Conference of Nigerian Society for Animal Production, Calabar, Nigeria, March,13.15^th  2007,449 – 451

Obun C O, Olafadehan O A, Ayanwale B A and Inuwa M 2008 Growth, carcass and organ weights of finisher broilers fed differently processed Detarium microcarpum(Guill and sperr) seed meal. International Journal of Livestock Research for Rural Development (LRRD) 20 (8):1-7pp. http//www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/8/obun20126.htm

Obioha F C 1992 A Guide to Poultry Production in the Tropics. Acena  Publications,     Enugu.

Okorie S U and Amechi  E C 2003 Effects of roasting and soaking on the proximate composition and functional properties of selected tropical legumes. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 9(2): 177-182.

Sadeghi G H, Samie A, Pourreza J and Rahmant H R 2004 Canvanine contents and toxicity of raw and treated bitter velch (Vicia ervilia) seeds for broiler chicks. International. Journal of Poultry Science, 3 (8):522-529

Uhegbu 1 F O, Chioma C, Owuchekwa C, Iweala E J and Ijeoma K 2009 Effect of Processing Methods on Nutritive and Antinutritive Properties of Seeds of Brachystegia eurycoma and Detarium microcarpum from Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8 (4): 316-320 www.pjbs.org/pjnonline/fin1106

Ukpabi U H, Amaefule K U and Amaefule O M 2008 Performance of broilers fed raw Bambarra ground nut(Vigna subterrean,L) offal diets supplemented with lysine and methionine. International Journal of Poultry Science,7(12):1177-1181 www.pjbs.org/ijps/ab1281.htm

Umar H A, Adamu R, Dahiru  D and Nadro M S 2007 Levels of anti-nutritional factors in some wild edible fruits of Northern Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6(16):1935-1938pp) http//www. ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/57853/46225

Van Soest P J, Robertson J B and Lewis B A 1991 Methods for Dietary Fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Non starch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, Vol.74 No. (10) 3583-3597 http//www. icav.up.pt/PTDC/CVT/098487/.../Van%20Soest,%201991

Received 7 May 2010; Accepted 3 November 2010; Published 1 April 2011

Go to top