Growth performance of broiler starter birds fed graded levels of raw Allamanda cathartica (L) seed meal

Abstract

The response of 120 day-old broiler starter birds to dietary inclusion levels of 0.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10% raw Allamanda cathartica (L) seed meals was investigated. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks, made up of 5 dietary treatments with 2 replicates per treatment and 12 birds per replicate. Feed intake and weight gain decreased progressively as the dietary inclusion level of A. cathartica seed meal increased from 0.0 to 10.0%, while feed conversion ratio decreased (p< 0.05). No mortality was recorded for the control diet (with 0.0% dietary inclusion level of A. cathartica seed meal), while mortality increased progressively as the dietary A. cathartica seed meal level increased (p< 0.05), with 100% mortality being recorded at 10.0% dietary inclusion level. Hence, A. cathartica is extremely toxic to broiler starter birds at whatever inclusion level. So, there is the need to detoxify the raw seed meal before it can be effectively incorporated into broiler starter diets.