Effect of levels of methionine supplementation on processed Mucuna sloanei seed meal based broiler chicken diets

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted with 150 Marshal Broiler chicken from day-old to 8 weeks to assess the effect of levels of methionine supplementation on processed Mucuna sloanei seed meal in broiler chickens diet. The trial lasted for 56 days. Mucuna sloanei seeds were soaked for 24 hours, and then boiled for 30 minutes after decanting the water used for soaking; oven dried and milled using the hammer mill (2.00 mm sieve). Five experimental diets were formulated (T₁ - T₅). T₁ was control diet, and contained neither Mucuna sloanei seed meal nor methionine supplementation. T₂ contained only Mucuna sloanei seed meal without methionine supplement, T₃–T₅ had 6% Mucuna sloanei seed meal quantitative replacement of soybean meal each, with methionine supplementation at 0.10%, 0.20% and 0.30% respectively. The feed conversion ratio of T₅ was the lowest, and so indicates better conversion than the rest. For cut parts, there were significant differences (P<0.05) for all the parameters measured. Diet 5 was better than the others. The organ weights showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Diet 5 had the least cost/kg weight, highest revenue and gross margin, and hence recommended.

Keywords:  Mucuna sloanei; Methionine; supplementation; soaking; boiling