GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS FED GRADED LEVEL OF AFRICAN PEAR (DACRYODES EDULIS) SEED MEAL

Abstract

The average feed intake (AFI), average weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and specific growth rate (SGR) of ninety six ( 96) day old broilers fed with diet containing African Pear (Dacryodes edulis) seed meal (APSM) at 0%, 18%, 36% and 54% levels of inclusion representing 0%, 25%, 50% and 100% value of maize were investigated for 56 days. The varying levels of APSM significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the FCR and PER of the birds while it significantly (P<0.05) depressed their AFI, WG and SGR. Hence APSM cannot replace maize in the diets of broilers.