Effect of Substituting Soybean Meal with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata WAL) Supplemented with Natural Plant Charcoals in Broiler Diet on Growth Performances and Carcass Characteristics

Subject Areas : Camel

J.R. Kana ¹ , A. Teguia ² , A. Fomekong ³

1 - Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon
2 - Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon
3 - Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon

Received: 2011-10-14 Accepted : 2011-11-05 Published : 2012-12-01

Keywords: broiler chickens, cowpeas, maize cob, plant charcoal, <i>Canarium schweinfurthii</i>,

Abstract :

A total of 280 unsexed broiler chicks, 21 days-old and weighing 580 g on average were randomly distributed into 28 experimental units of 10 birds each. Seven experimental diets containing respectively 0% (T0 control), 20% raw cowpeas (T1), 20% raw cowpeas + 0.2% of Canarium charcoal (T2), 20% raw cowpeas + 0.2% maize cob charcoal (T3), 20% cooked cowpeas (T4), 20% cooked cowpeas + 0.2% Canarium charcoal (T5) and 20% cooked cowpeas + 0.2% maize cob charcoal (T6) were each fed to 4 experimental units in a completely randomised design. The T3 and T6 rations containing respectively raw and cooked cowpeas supplemented with maize cob charcoal were the most consumed (P<0.05). Birds fed T1 with raw cowpea (1287g) and T2 fed with raw cowpea supplemented with Canarium charcoal (1280 g) recorded the lowest weight gain, with the control birds (1536 g) and birds fed T6 containing cooked cowpea supplemented with maize cob charcoal (1490 g) recording the highest body weight gain. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly poorer (P<0.05) for the birds fed raw cowpea supplemented with Canarium charcoal (3.23), those on the control diet without cowpea recorded the best FCR (2.74). There was no significant difference among treatment groups for carcass yield and the lowest (P<0.05) liver and pancreas relative weight recorded for the birds on the cooked cowpea supplemented with charcoals diets was not significantly different from that of control birds. The lowest gizzard relative weight was recorded with control birds as compared with all other groups. The intestine density (weight/length) was significantly lower (P<0.05) with raw cowpea supplemented with Canarium charcoal (0.19 g/cm), and the highest recordedwith cooked cowpea (0.27 g/cm) and control diet (0.25 g/cm).

References:

Abdel-Fattah S.A., El-Sanhoury M.H., El-Mednay N.M. and Abdel-Azeem F. (2008). Thyroid activity, some blood constituents, organs morphology and performance of broiler chicks fed supplemental organic acids. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 7, 215-222.
Chakam V.P., Teguia A. and Tchoumboue J. (2008). Performance of finisher broiler chickens as affected by graded levels of cooked cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) in the grower-finisher diet. Bull. Anim. Prod. Afr. 56, 251-258.
Defang H.F., Teguia A., Awah-Ndukum J., Kenfack A., Ngoula F. and Metuge F. (2008). Performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed boiled cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Wal) and or black common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) meal diests. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 7, 1351-1356.
Kana J.R., Teguia A., Mungfu B.M. and Tchoumboue J. (2011). Growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of charcoal from maize cob or seed of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. Trop. Anim. Health. Prod. 43,51-56.
Kana J.R., Teguia A. and Tchoumboue J. (2010). Effect of dietary plant charcoal from Canarium schweifurthii Engl. and maize cob on aflatoxin B1 toxicosis in broiler chickens. Livst.Res. Rural. Dev. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/4/kana22077.htm.
Ramos A.J., Johana F.G. and Hernandez E. (1996).Prevention of toxic effects of mycotoxins by means of non-nutritive absorbent compounds. J. Food Protect. 59, 631-641.
Robinson D. and Singh N.D. (2001).Alternative Protein Sources for Layers. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australia.
Ruttanavut J., Yamauchi K., Goto H. and Erikawa T. (2009).Effects of dietary bamboo charcoal powder including vinegar liquid on growth performance and histological intestinal change in Aigamo ducks. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 8, 229–236.
Teguia A. and Beynen A.C. (2005). Alternative feedstuffs for broilers in Cameroon. Livest. Res. Rural. Dev. http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd17/3/tgu173.htm.
Teguia A., Chakam V.P. and Tchoumboue J. (2007). Effets de la cuisson ou de l’extrusion du niébé (Vigna unguiculata) nsur les performances de production des poulets de chair en finition. Bull. Anim. Prod. Afr. 55, 118-126.
Teguia A. and Fon Fru S. (2007). The growth performances of broiler chickens as affected by diets containing common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) treated by different methods. Trop. Anim. Health. Prod. 39, 405-410.
Ugwu S.O.C. and Onyimonyi A.E. (2008). Carcass, organ and organoleptic characteristics of spent layers fed Bambara nut sievates. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 7, 81-84.
Wiryawan K.G. (1997). Grain Legumes for Poultry. University of Queensland, Autralia.
Wiryawan K.G. and Dingle J.G. (1999). Recent research on improving the quality of grain legumes for chicken growth. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 76, 185-193.