A note on the use of breadfruit meal (<i>Artocarpus incisus</i>) as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens

Abstract

Breadfruit meal (BFM) {Artocarpus incisus) was evaluated as a poultry feed ingredient in a pilot study. Diets containing 0, 25, 50 and 75 g BFM kg"1 were fed, ad libitum, to 240 day-old broiler chickens for a period of 8 weeks. Birds had free access to water. Performance criteria studied included feed intake, growth rate, efficiency of feed utilization, mortality, carcass and blood parameters. The concentration of BFM in the diet had significant negative influence on feed consumption (r =-0.96). Breadfruit meal at 25 and 50 g kg" 1 slightly improved the growth and feed utilization of broilers. At 75 g kg" 1 diet, BFM depressed weight gain although not significantly, but feed utilization was similar as in the control group. The level of BFM had no significant impact on carcass yield, mortality, or blood parameters. The kidney, heart, liver and gizzard weights of broilers were also unaffected by the addition of BFM in diets. Breadfruit meal could be included in broiler chickens' diet at concentrations up to 50 g kg" 1 without an adverse effect on performance

Effect of Partial Replacement of Corn with Breadfruit (<em>Artocarpus altilis</em>) Flour on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens

“…The results of the current study on dressing percentage and internal organ weights are not in agreement with the findings of Ravindran and Sivakanesan (1995) and Atuahene et al (2002), who reported that these parameters were not affected by breadfruit treated diets. The enlargement of the liver and other internal organs could be attributed to the fact that the presence of anti-nutritive factors in the diet, in particular tannin and oxalate and increased detoxification in the body (Ologhobo et al, 2003;Adekunle et al, 2006;Qorbanpour et al, 2018).…”

“…Besides, Adekunle et al (2006) has revealed that higher growth and weight gain of broilers can be obtained by providing them with processed BFF compared to a corn-based diet. Processing of raw breadfruit is crucial because the presence of anti-nutritive factors in its raw form lowers the digestion, absorption, and utilization of energy, protein, and specific amino acids through the inhibition of digestive enzymes, thus resulting in poor growth and delayed maturity (Atuahene et al, 2002;Oladunjoye et al, 2010;Brea et al, 2013;Nikmaram et al, 2017).…”

“…Interestingly, broilers fed BFF showed a lower ADFI than those fed the control diet in the grower period. An increment in dustiness and powdery nature of feed due to BFF as compared with corn might cause low acceptability, low palatability, and difficulties in eating by broilers (Ravindran and Sivakanesan, 1995;Atuahene et al, 2002). This condition could be partially alleviated either by further processing (pelleting) of the BFF incorporated diets or the addition of fat to improve texture and reduce the dustiness (Morgan and Choct, 2016).…”

“…Therefore, non-conventional energy-rich feed ingredients which are locally available, less in demand, and relatively lower in cost may be an excellent solution for partial or complete substitution of corn in broiler diets. Consequently, breadfruit has been identified as a potential feedstuff to overcome the constraints of corn used in broiler diets (Atuahene et al, 2002;Chukwukaelo et al, 2018). Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is an underutilized tropical fruit with high energy content.…”