Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Layer Chickens Fed Diets Containing Prosopis Africana Seed Coat Meal Treated with Polyzyme®

Abstract

Abstract: The study evaluated the effect of prosopis Africana seed coat meal (PASCM) on the performance and carcass characteristics of three hundred (300) Nera brown layer chickens that were fed for a period of 39 weeks. The birds were randomly allotted to 5 experimental diets with 3 replications of 20 birds each. The diets were formulated with the inclusion of PASCM at 0, 15, 20, 25 and 30% levels for treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively and the data collected were subjected to analysis of Variance in a completely randomized design. Results obtained showed that all the productive parameters were affected (P < 0.05) by the dietary treatments except mortality that was not affected (P > 0.05). Carcass parameters, carcass cut and internal organs were not affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary treatments however, GIT parts were affected (P < 0.05) by the diets. Performance indicators and carcass characteristics showed that 20% PASCM inclusion level resulted in optimum production and hence recommended for adoption.