Evaluation of inclusion levels of milled mature pods of prosopis juliflora (mathenge) in broiler finisher diets

Abstract

A study was conducted at Tatton Agricultural Park (Egerton University) to determine inclusion levels and effects of milled mature pods of Prosopis juliflora on feed intake (FI), growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing % and weights of internal organs (liver, gizzard and heart) of finishing broilers. The nutrient composition of the pods was also determined. Experimental diets were formulated using milled mature Prosopis pods (MMPP) at varying levels and offered to broilers in two separate experiments (experiment 2 and 3) conducted from the 29th to 56th days. In experiment 2, 120, 29 day old broilers (Arbor Acres strain) weighing 0.82 ±0.09 kg were used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Each treatment had 20 broilers, offered six experimental diets T1 (0% MMPP, control), T2 (20% MMPP), T3 (40% MMPP), T4 (60%, MMPP), T5 (80% MMPP) and T6 (100 %, MMPP). In experiment 3, 80 broilers (Arbor Acres strain) 29 days old weighing 0.82 ±0.08 kg were used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Each treatment had 20 broilers offered four experimental diets, T1 (0% MMPP, control), T2 (10% MMPP), T3 (20% MMPP) and T4 (30% MMPP). The results showed MMPP had CP of 11.4% and gross energy of 17.489 MJ/kg feed. In experiment 2, the ADFI was higher (P<0.05) in T1 and T2, than the rest of the treatments. Final live body weight was higher (P<0.05) in T1 and T2, than the rest of the treatments. The FCR for T1-T4, were similar (P>0.05), but significantly different (P<0.05) from T5 and T6. The dressing %, liver and gizzard weights were similar (P>0.05), for T1-T3, but different (P<0.05) for T4-T6. Heart weight for T1 was different (P<0.05) from the other treatments. For experiment 3, the ADFI were higher (P<0.05) in T1and T2 than T3-T4. Final live body weights were similar (P>0.05) for T1-T3. FCR was similar (P>0.05) among the treatments. The dressing % and gizzard and proventriculus weights were similar (P>0.05) among all treatments. Liver weight for T1 was different (P<0.05) from the other treatments. Heart weights for T1 and T2 were different (P<0.05) from T3 and T4. Therefore it is concluded that MMPP can substitute 20 % of broiler finisher diets, without affecting (feed intake, weight gain and internal organs weights).