Effects of trona treatment on the feeding value of jackbean (Canavalia - ensiformis) for broiler birds

Abstract

35 - day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of trona on the nutritive value of jackbean. One batch of jackbean was soaked for 48 hours in trona solution (3% of the weight of jackbean) prior to cooking for 30 minutes, dried and ground into meal. The second batch was cooked directly in the presence of trona (3% of the weight of jackbean) for 30 minutes, then dried and ground into meal. Jackbean meals so prepared were then used to formulate broiler finisher diets at 0%, 20%, 25%, and 30% levels respectively (Table 3). Two hundred and eighty (280), 21-day old broiler chicks were divided into 7 groups and each group randomly assigned to the 7 treatment diets in a completely randomised design (CDR). Each group was further sub-divided into four replicates. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. The results of this trial suggest that jackbean meals so prepared significantly (P < 0.05) depressed performance of broiler finishers at all levels tested. When compared with the control, mortality was similar in all cases.