Abstract

Chemical analysis, apparent metabolizable energy (MEn), and one feeding trial were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of Java plum seeds (JPS) that had been subjected to a combination of soaking, boiling, and fermentation (SBF). Five broiler starter diets were formulated with the processed Java plum seed meal (JPSM) comprising 0, 80, 160, 240, and 320 g/kg of the diet. The JPS before and after processing contained 910±5.30 and 888±6.10 g DM; 44.2±0.940 and 48.1±1.02 g CP; 886±9.90 and 888±6.54 g NFE; and 13.2± 0.165 and 13.3±0.154 MJ calculated metabolizable energy; 24.4±1.33 and 9.17±0.940 g tannins per kg, respectively. The MEn value of the processed JPSM was 14.7±0.973 MJ/kg. Feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), and feed efficiency (FCR) of broiler chicks decreased (R² ˃ 0.850) with increasing JPSM in the diet. At 80 and 320 g/kg inclusion, FI, WG, and FCR were depressed by 16.0 and 34.1%, 20.2 and 42.5%, and 4.90 and 12.5%, respectively. Liver, heart, and pancreas weights relative to body weight were not significantly (P ˃ 0.05) affected. However, caecum, gizzard, and intestine weights increased (R² ˃ 0.800), while the heart weight decreased (R² = 0.772) with increasing JPSM in the diet. At 80 and 320 g/kg JPSM inclusion, weights of caecum, intestine, and gizzard increased by 48.5 and 68.2%, 18.8 and 43.5%, and 9.55 and 19.2%, respectively. Inclusion of JPSM in chick diets adversely (P < 0.05) affected nitrogen retention (NR), nitrogen digestibility (ND), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and excreta water content (EWC). At 320 g/kg JPSM inclusion, NR, ND, DMD, and EWC were depressed by 30.8, 12.6, 0.42, and 2.45%, respectively. No mortality was recorded at 320 g/kg JPSM inclusion. The SBF did not improve the nutritional value of JPS for poultry production.

Key words: Anti-nutrients, broiler performance, nutrient utilization, organ weights, processing.