Performance of broiler chickens fed graded dietary levels of toasted jackfruit seed meal (<i>Artocarpus heterophyllus</i>)

Abstract

Effect of toasted jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed meal (TJSM) on performance of 120 2 weeks old broiler chickens was investigated. The  birds were divided into four dietary treatments having 3 replicates and 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Diet one (T₁ ) was soybean based while toasted JFSM meal was added to diets 2 (T₂ ), 3 (T ₃) 1 and 4 (T₄ ) at 5, 10 and 15% levels of inclusion, respectively. Growth  performance was 4 generally depressed with increased inclusion of toasted JFSM in the diets. Feed conversion ratio of birds fed T and T were the same and significantly better (P>0.05) than those of the 1 2 remaining treatment groups. Birds fed T had significantly higher values of live weight, 1 dressed weight and dressing percentage followed by birds fed T . The prime cut parts were 2 similar in all the treatment groups. Organ proportions showed no significant differences across the treatment groups except the spleen. Cost per kg feed decreased with increased inclusion of TJSM. The cost of feed consumed was higher (P>0.05) in T (531.29) but 1 decreased with increased inclusion of TJSM. The cost per kg weight gain, cost of  production and revenue were similar across the treatment groups with birds fed T significantly higher 1 (P>0.05) than the remaining treatment groups. The gross margin obtained for birds fed T ₁ and T₂ are comparable and higher than other treatment groups. From the foregoing TJFSM is  a potential feed resource and could be included in the diet of broiler chickens up to 5% inclusion level.

Keywords: Utilization, Economics, Growth, Organ, Carcass