The Performance Of Broiler Birds Fed Raw Or Processed (Earth — Ball) Icacinia manni Meal

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of replacing 10% of raw or differently processed Icacinia manni with maize on the performance of broiler chickens. The processed Jcacinia manni were; fermented and fried (FF), fermented with oil and fried (FWOF), fermented and fried with oil (FFWO), fermented with oil (FWO) and fermented only (FO) • giving a total of seven dietary treatment groups including the raw (RO) and the control. 210 unsexed Anak broiler day-old chicks where used. Each treatment was assigned 30 birds, replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate arranged in completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were given ad libitum. At the end of starter phase, control diet significantly gave the highest final weight (1153.33g) followed by FWO and FO (1106.67 and 1 100.00g) and RO the least. Daily gain followed the same trend as final weight. Icacinia nianni significantly (P<0.05) reduced feed intake and was mostly affected by RO, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) was negatively affected by FF and RO. At the finisher phase, control diet produced the highest (P><0.05) final weight (2306.67g) followed by FWO (2166.67g) and FO (2136.67g), but negatively affected by RO (1663.33g). Daily gain followed similar trend. icacinia manni meal significantly (P><0,05) reduced feed intake among the treatment groups with raw producing the highest reduction in feed intake. Dressed percentage and wing were significantly improved by FWO and RO respectively while other cut parts were not significant (P>0.05). FWOF diet gave higher abdominal fat compared to control. The internal organs were not significantly (P>0.05) affected except the lungs and intestine. Blood indices were not adversely affected (P>O.05). Although feed cost/bird was significantly