THE SUBSTITUTION OF PIGEON PEA SEED (CAJANUS CAJAN) FOR GROUNDNUT CAKE AND MAIZE IN BROILER FINISHER RATION

Abstract

One   hundred  and   twenty  4  -   week  old broilers were used to study the effect of substituting pigeon pea seed meal (PPSM) for groundnut cake and maize in broiler finisher rations.  The 4 diet groups contained 0, 30, 40, and  50% PPSM  and  measurements  taken  in the 3 week study  were weight gain,  feed  intake feed conversion ration and   protein  efficiency ratio. Results  showed  that   body weight gain of the  birds  increased as  the  proportion  of PPSM in the diets increased. The final body weights  were  1.47,  1.64,  1.71  and   1.73kg  for 0.30,  40,  and   50%  respectively. Feed   and protein   intake   significantly   increased  as   a result of replacing groundnut cake  and  maize with   PPSM   up   to  40%,  but  did   not   show significant  difference   between   40  and   50%. I Feed  intake   figures  were  96.80, 129.90, 144.30 and  142.60g and  corresponding protein intake figures  were  20.67, 27.64, 30.72 and  30.57g  for 0,   30,   40   and    50%    inclusion    of   PPSM respectively. Feed conversion ratio  and protein efficiency ratio did not significantly differ among the diets.