Authors : A.M. Akanji , A.D. Ologhobo and I.A. Emiola
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of raw jack beans, bambara groundnut and benne seeds on performance characteristics, serum metabolites and weights of organs of exotic adult cockerels. Each of the raw legumes replaced full fat soybean meal at 25 and 50% levels, respectively. The experiment ran for 8 weeks. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of birds fed with 25% and 50% raw jack beans, raw bambara groundnuts and raw benne seeds were significantly (p< 0.05) reduced, respectively. However, the reductions were marked in birds fed 50% raw jack beans. Significant (p< 0.05) correlations were obtained between feed intake and haemagglutinin (r = -0.68), trypsin inhibitor (r = - 0.58); Weight gain and haemagglutinin (r = - 0.76) , trypsin inhibitor (r = -0.83). Mortality was higher in birds fed 50% raw jack beans. Serum total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly (p< 0.05) elevated in birds fed raw benne seed-based diets, but reduced (p< 0.05) in those fed 25 and 50% raw jack beans and bambara groundnuts, respectively. Weights of livers and testes were significantly (p< 0.05) reduced in birds fed raw jack beans, raw bambara groundnuts and raw benne seeds, respectively. Pancreatic enlargement was however observed only in birds fed raw jack beans and bambara groundnuts, respectively.
A.M. Akanji , A.D. Ologhobo and I.A. Emiola , 2007. Utilisation of Some Raw Tropical Legume Seeds in Diets of Exotic Adult Cockerels . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 485-489.