Substitution Value of toasted Pigeon pea (<i>Cajanus cajan</i>) seed meal for Soybean meal and Maize in Broiler Starter Diets

Abstract

One hundred and eighty 7-day old broilers were used in a 28-day feeding trial to determine the substitution value of toasted pigeon pea seeds meal (TPSM) for soybean meal and maize in boiler starter diet. The brown coat coloured pigeon pea seeds were toasted at 100oC for 15minutes and milled. The inclusion levels of TPSM were 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50% replacing 40, 60, 80 and 100% of soybean meal and 20, 30, 40 and 50% of maize, respectively in the diet. Data on weight gain, feed intake were recorded and used to calculate the feed conversion ratio. Results showed that birds on 0% TPSM (control) performed significantly (P<0.05) better than birds on TPSM diet. Toasted pigeon pea seed meal progressively depressed weight gain with increasing dietary level. Feed conversion ratio also decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing dietary level of TPSM except at 40% dietary level.


Keywords: Pigeon pea, soybean meal, maize, broiler diet and toasting



[IJARD Vol.3 2002: 92-97]