ABSTRACT

An eight (8) weeks feeding trial experiment was conducted using 180 B-not breed of day old turkey poults to investigate the effect of levels of methionine supplementation of processed Mucuna sloanei seed meal in turkey poults diet. The seeds of the Mucuna sloanei were soaked for 24 hours, boiled for 30 minutes, oven dried and grind before incorporating it into diets. Five diets labeled T1 - T5were formulated and allocated to five dietary treatments, each treatment was replicated thrice and each replicate had 10 birds in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diet 1 was the control diet with no Mucuna sloanel meal while diet 2 contain Mucuna sloanel meal at 5% but without methionine supplementation. Other diets (3, 4, and 5) contain varying levels of methionine supplementation at 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% levels of inclusion respectively. Feed and water were given ad libitum. The proximate and gross energy of the test feedstuff (Mucuna sloanei), were as follows, Crude protein (23.74%), Crude Fibre (12.66%), Ash (3.54%), Crude fat (1.97%), NFE (45.3 1%) and Gross Energy (3.40kca1/kg). The test feedstuff contained the following anti-nutritional factors; L - Dopa (0.76%), Tannin (0.13%) and Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)( 1.37mg/kg). For growth performance, there were significant differences (p<O.05) among the treatment means. The feed conversion ratio of T5was the least. For haematological studies, there were significant differences (p<O.05) for the following parameters Hb, PCV, and MCHC. Nevertheless, they all fell within the normal range established for turkey poults. For blood chemistry, there were significant differences (p<O.OS) for urea, albumin and total protein. T5value was significantly lower than all other treatment means for urea and it compare favourably with control diet. Also, T5is statistically similar to T1 (control diet) for the value of albumin and total protein. For economics of diet, diet 5 had the least cost/kg weight and highest gross margin; making it the choice diet. Considering the feed conversion ratio, appreciable value of both haematology and serum chemistry parameters, the least cost/kg weight gain and highest value of gross margin, diet 5 is recommended.