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Performance
and carcass characteristics of broilers fed boiled cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata L Walp) and or black common bean (Phaseolus
Vulgaris) meal diets
Henry Fualefac Defang*, Alexis Teguia,
J. Awah-Ndukum, Augustave Kenfack, Ferdinand Ngoula and F.
Metuge
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and
Agricultural Sciences (FASA), University of Dschang
–Cameroon.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail:fdefang@yahoo.com.
Tel: 23799252275.
Accepted 29 February, 2008 |
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A total of 256 broiler chicks were used to evaluate the
effect of replacing meat meal with boiled cowpea and/or
black common bean on the performance and carcass
characteristics of broilers. At the starter phase, boiled
cowpea and or black common bean meal constituted 11% of S1,
S2 and a 1:1 ratio of boiled cowpea and black common (S3)
diets replacing 100% of meat meal and 25% of fish meal. For
the finisher phase, 14% boiled cowpea (F1), 14% boiled black
common bean (F2) and an equal proportion (1:1) of boiled
cowpea and black common bean meals (F3) were used to replace
100% meat meal and 25% fish meal. During the starter period,
feed intake and weight gain were significantly (P < 0.05)
higher for broilers fed the control diet compared to those
in the treatment diets. No significant (P > 0.05) difference
was observed between treatment groups for feed conversion
ratio and feed cost for the production of 1 kg live body
weight. At finisher, broilers started with the control
starter diet and finished with any of the test diets
significantly (P < 0.05) consumed more feed and acquired
heavier weights compared to the other dietary combinations.
Feed cost was significantly (P < 0.05) lower for birds
started the control starter diet and finished with either
the control finisher diet or boiled cowpea diets. Carcass
yield was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for birds finished
with boiled cowpea diet compared to the other treatments.
Cowpea and black common bean boiled for 30 min under
uncontrolled temperature and pressure could not be
recommended for broiler's diet formulation.
Key words:
Heat treatment, Vigna unguiculata L Walp,
Phaseolus Vulgaris, growth performance, broiler. |
