Abstract

Eighty 4 weeks old spotted cockerels (Harco strain) were used to determine the effect of toasted bambara nut offal (TBNO) and supplementary enzyme on growth performance, haematology and organ weights of birds. The birds were randomly divided into 8 groups of 10 birds each. The groups were randomly assigned to 8 energetic (11.30 MJ/kg Me) and nitrogenous (20.02 to 20.06% crude protein) diets in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement involving four levels (0, 10, 15 and 20%) of TBNO and 2 enzyme levels (0 and 0.02%). Each treatment was replicated 2 times with 5 birds per replicate. Average final body weight (AFBW), average daily weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed cost per kg weight gain were similar, while average daily feed intake (ADFI) was different (P<0.05) among treatments. Inclusion TBNO and supplementary enzyme in the diets of cockerels had significant (P < 0.05) effect on the  apparent retentions of dry matter (DM), nitrogen, crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). While there were significant interactions (P< 0.05) between TBNO and enzyme levels on DM, nitrogen, CF, EE and NFE retentions. Enzyme supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased DM, nitrogen, EE and NFE retentions at all the TBNO inclusion levels. Enzyme supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) CF retention at the 10, 15 and 20% TBNO inclusion levels. It is concluded that 20% TBNO can be included in the diet of growing cockerels without any deleterious effect on their growth performance.

Key words: Toasted bambara nut waste, enzyme, effect, cockerels, growth performance.

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: TBNO, Toasted bambara nut offal; AFBW, average final body weight;ADWG, average daily weight gain; ADFI, average daily feed intake; DM, dry matter;CF, crude fibre; EE, ether extract; NFE, nitrogen free extract.