ABSTRACT

A Total of seventy two turkey poults was procured at day old and were used in an experiment to determine the performance of turkey poults fed varying levels (0,20,30, 40%) of dietary supplement of Telfaira occidentalis seed (pumpkin seed) meal. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design having four treatment groups and each treatment group was replicated thrice with each replicate having a total of six poults. The turkey poults were fed and watered ad libiturn and the study lasted for 56 days. Results obtained from growth performance showed that daily body weight gain were significantly (p<O.05) influenced by the Ti diets, having considerably higher body weight gain compared with T2, T3 and T4 level of supplementation. The feed conversion ratio showed that turkey poults fed Ti diet was significantly (P<0.05) lower to those fed the T2 and T3 diet. However, the mortality showed that turkey poults fed Ti diet was significantly lower to the remaining treatment groups where turkey poults fed T2 and T3 are not significantly (P>0.05) different from each other but significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed T4 diet. Haematological parameters assessed showed significant (p<O.05) difference in the Haemoglobin, Total white blood cell, Red blood cell, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration, but there was no significant (p>0.05) difference among the treatment groups for Packed cell volume and the Mean corpuscular volume. The serum biochemical parameters showed that there was significant (p<O.05) difference in Total protein, Albumin, Urea, Creatinine. The Globulin showed that the different treatment groups differs significantly (P<0.05) among each other, where turkey poults fed T4 and T2 diet were significantly (P<0.05) higher that the remaining treatment groups followed by those fed T3 diet and Ti diet respectively. The Glucose showed that there was significant (P<0.05) difference among the treatment groups where the turkey poults fed the control diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the remaining treatment groups followed by those fed 20%, but there was no significant P>0.05) difference among turkey poults fed 30% and 40% PSM. It was concluded that a lower percentage of fluted pumpkin seed meal should be included in the turkey diet for enhanced feed efficiency, nutrient utilization and performance.