The eight-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the nutrient
digestibility and growth performance of broiler chickens fed raw or processed
Senna obtusifolia seed meal (SOSM). Six experimental diets were compounded to
contain 0% SOSM and 20% each of the raw, boiled, soaked, sprouted and
fermented SOSM respectively. Two hundred and sixteen (216) broiler chicks
were randomly allotted to six (6) dietary treatments in a randomised complete
block design with three (3) replicates containing 12 chicks each. Data were
collected on nutrient digestibility, feed intake, weight gain, feed
conversion ratio and mortality. The result of productive performance
indicated that feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were
significantly (P<0.05) depressed in broiler chickens fed raw, soaked and
sprouted Senna obtusifolia seed meal. However, broiler chickens fed fermented
SOSM showed better (P<0.05) productive performance that was close to those
fed the positive control diet (0% SOSM). The mortality rate did not reveal
any particular trend. However, the low mortality rate recorded in the
different treatments indicated broiler chicken can tolerate up to 20% of
either raw or processed SOSM. Broiler chickens fed raw SOSM recorded lower
values for dry matter (63.06%), crude protein (52.46%), ether extract
(53.88%), crude fibre (30.72%) and nitrogen-free extract (46.11%)
digestibility than those fed the other processed SOSM. The nutrient
digestibility of broiler chickens fed fermented SOSM was significantly
(P<0.05) better followed by those fed boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal. For
instance, broiler chickens fed fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal recorded
the highest crude protein and ether extract of 69.91 and 70.03% compared to
the other processing methods. It can be concluded that 20% fermented SOSM can
be incorporated in the diets of broiler chickens with acceptable depreciation
in biological performance. Slightly lower levels of boiled SOSM can be
included in the diet of broiler chickens but the levels should be ascertained
in further studies.
Effect of dietary supplementation of lysophospholipids on productive performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass quality traits of broiler chickens
