A Study on the Effect of Graded Levels of Locust Beans (Parkia biglobosa) Seed Meal on the Performance of “Broiler” in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto Teaching and Research Farm Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of feeding locust bean (Parkia Biglobosa) seed meal (LBSM) at graded levels on the performance of broilers. Two hundred and forty broilers were used which were randomly allotted to four treatment groups, each replicated four times in a completely randomized design. The diets contained 0% level of LBSM which served as the control, while other three diets contained 5, 10 and 15% levels of LBSM. The experiment lasted for 28days. Significant differences of (P<0.05) were observed in feed intake (g/b/d) water intake ml/b/d, final body weight (g/b), body weight gain (g/b) averaged daily gain (g/b/d) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). While no significant effect of locust bean seed meal (LBSM) in broilers diets provide effective mechanism for better performance. But live weight was significantly influenced (P<0.05) by LBSM. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant difference between treatment groups in term of performance parameters. Where significant difference existed, Duncan’s multiple range test was applied to separate the means. Data analysis was carried out using (SPSS (SPSS, 2013version 20.0).It is concluded that LBSM can be included in the diet of broilers at starter phase from 5-15% inclusion levels while at finisher phase, diets containing 10 and 15% level of inclusion would be used for better performance without any deleterious effect on the growth performance. It could be recommended that, diets containing 10 and 15% LBSM level of inclusion would be used for better performance and economic benefit with better feed conversion ratio.