EFFECT OF GRADED LEVELS OF CASTOR SEED MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER STARTER CHICKENS

Abstract

A four-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of natural fermentation on the feeding value of castor seed meal for broiler chickens (starter phase) as a replacement of soybean cake. A total of 300 broiler chicks (ROSS 308) strain were randomly allotted to the five (5) experimental diets in a Completely Randomized

Design with four replicates having 15 birds each. Fermented castor seed meal (FCSM) was included at 0, 25, 50 75 and 100%. Data collected included initial body weight, final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and energy efficiency ratio. All data collected on growth performance were subjected to Analysis of Variance using SAS software and means with significant differences were compared using Tukey’s Test. The result showed improvement for birds fed 50 and 75 % fermented castor seed meal (FCSM) in the final body weight (457.08, 453.72 and 1912.19, 1768.81 g/bird), total body weight (411.33, 408.92 and 1473.71, 1333.08 g/bird), weight gain/day (14.69, 14.60 and 52.63, 47.61 g/bird) with better feed conversion ratio (1.38, 1.27 and 1.13, 1.09) at the starter phase. However, protein efficiency ratio (0.78 and 2.21) increased (P<0.05) at 100% FCSM while protein intake energy efficiency ratio (13.00) reduced significantly (P<0.05) due the inclusion of castor seed meal in the starter phase. It is concluded that fermented castor seed meal could be included in the diets of broiler starter feed at 50% and even 75% at starter phase without any known detrimental effect on the growth performance of broiler chickens.