Nutrient digestibility and growth performance of cockerels fed processed sickle pod (Senna obtusifolia) seed meal based-diets

Abstract

 A Feeding trial was conducted for sixteen weeks to evaluate nutrient utilization and growth performanceofcockerelsfedprocessedSennaobtusifoliamealbased-diets.Sixexperimental diets werecompounded tocontain 0%and20%eachoftheraw,boiled, soaked, sproutedand fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. Data were collected on nutrient digestibility, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Poor nutrient digestibility for crude protein (45.18%), nitrogen free extract (42.39%) and ether extract (49.22%) were recorded in the group of cockerels fed raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. However, better nutrient digestibility for crude protein (76.23%), nitrogen free extract (67.62%) and ether extract (68.65%) digestibility was observed in the group of cockerel fed 0% Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. Among the cockerels fed the processed Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diets, those fed the fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet showed better crude protein (75.08%), ether extract (68.65%) nitrogen free exract (67.62%) and crude fibre (32.78%) digestibility. The result of productive performance revealed a significantly (P<0.05) low total feed intake (3242.13 g), total weight gain (806.50 g) and the poorest feed conversion ratio(4.02) in the group of cockerels fed raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. The group of cockerels fed the processed Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diets indicated significant (P<0.05) improvement in productive performance with those fed the fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet recording the highest total feed intake (3552.51 g), total weight gain (1079.79 g) and the best feed conversion ratio (3.29). It can be concluded that 20% of fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal can be incorporated in the diets of cockerels without depreciationinnutrientdigestibilityandproductiveperformance.