Effects of Inclusion of Processed Mucuna Utilis [Mucuna pruriens] (l) Seed Meal on Performance Characteristics of Noilers

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to ascertain the inclusion levels of cooked, decorticated and toasted Mucuna Utilis seed meal on the performance characteristics of Noilers. One hundred and forty four (144) day old Niolers chicks were raised on four experimental diets. Mucuna seed meal were incorporated at the rate of 200g/kg of feed, the diets was formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Each diet was fed to a group of 36 birds for a period of 56days. There were significant (P<0.05) differences among the treatment groups in feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio. The group feed decorticated Mucuna seed meal showed significant (P<0.05) depressed feed intake, body weight and poor feed conversion ratio when compared with other treatment groups. Apparent digestibility of crude protein either extract, crude fibre and ash differed significantly (P<0.05) among the treatments. It was concluded that cooked Mucuna seed could be included in Noiler diets at 200g/kg while decortication was an ineffective processing method.