ABSTRACT

 A 56- day feeding trial was conducted with 150 Marshal Broiler day-old chicks to assess the effect of levels of methionine supplementation of processed Mucuna sloanei seed meal in broiler chickens diet. Mucuna sloanei seeds were soaked for 24 hours, and then boiled for 30 minutes after decanting the water used for soaking; oven dried and milled using the hammer mill (2.00 mm sieve). Five experimental diets were formulated (T +- Ts). T 1 was control diet, T» had neither Mucuna s/oanei seed meal nor methionine supplement, T 3- T 5 had 6% Mucuna sloanei seed meal replacement of soybean each, with varying levels of methionine supplementation (0.00% - 0.30%). The calculated % crude protein was maintained between 21.54 and 21.14 for T,- Ts. The calculated Metabolisable Energy (ME) was maintained between 2821.72 and 2847 .52 kcal/kg for all the diets. The birds were assigned to the diets in 3 replicates, in a completely randomized design (CRD) and water given ad libitum. The proximate composition of Mucuna sloanei seed meal especially the crude protein and gross energy (23.89% and 4.59kcal/g respectively) indicated that soaked and boiled Mucuna sloanei meal is a potential feed ingredient. It contains anti-nutritional factors {hydrogen cyanide (HCN)-- 2.58mg/kg, saponin - 0.24%, phytic acid - 0.16%, oxalate - 0.06%, L-dopa - 3.11% and trypsin inhibitor (TI)- 1.86 TIU/mg}. Growth performance, showed significant differences (P<0.05) for final weight, weight gain/bird, weight gain/bird/day and feed conversion ratio. The final weight, weight gain/bird, weight gain/bird/day of birds with methionine supplements in their diets, were significantly higher than the control diet. The feed conversion ratio of Ts was the least. For cut parts, there were significant differences (P<0.05) for all the parameters measured, with diet 5 comparing favourably with the control diet. The organ weights parameters showed no significant difference (P>0.05). Economically, diet 5 had the least cost/kg weight, highest revenue and gross margin. Conclusively, diet 5 of highest revenue and gross margin was the choice diet and hence recommended.