ABSTRACT

Three hundred and twenty-four exotic pullets were used to determine the replacement value of raw or boiled pigeon pea seed meal for soybean meal and maize in diets of hybrid pullets in their first 56 days of life. The experimental design was 2 x 5 factorial in a completely randomized design (CRD). The fators were form (raw and boiled) and inclusion levels (0, 15, 20, 25 and 30%) of PSM in the pullet diets. The nine experimental diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Each of the raw or boiled PSM was included in the diets at 0, 15, 20, 25 and 30% of the whole diet. Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 pullet chicks per reDlicate. Parameters measured were live weight at 8th week of life, daily weight gain, daily feed and protein intakes, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed cost. Results showed that raw or boiled pigeon pea seed meal (PSM) included as 15, 20, 25 and 30% in the diet replaced 20.16, 26.87, 33.60 and 40.30% maize, respectively and * corresponding 25.92, 34.59, 43.21 and 5 1.89% soybean meal, respectively, which resulted in 6.70 and 8.60% reduction iii the quantity required of maize and soybean meal, respectively. Pullets fed raw PSM diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher daily feed intake (32.26 g), FCR (5.11), daily protein iiitake and significantly (P<0.05) lower PER (1.10) and cost (N58.78) per kg of diet than pullets fed boiled PSM or control diets. 25% PSM diet significantly (P<0.05) lowered daily weight gain than control, 15 and 20% PSM diets did. Cost per kg diet also significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing level of PSM in the diets. The conclusion was a that raw or boiled pigeon pea seed meal (PSM) could be included up to 30% in the diets of exotic pullets (1-56 days). The replacement value could be 40.30% for maize and 5 1.89% for soybean meal. Boiled PSM at all levels of inclusion would lower daily feed intake.