Growth performance, carcass traits and internal organs of broiler chickens fed differently processed earth ball (Icacina mannii) meals

This study was conducted using ninety – six (96) day-old Cobb 500 chicks to evaluate the effect of differently processed Icacina mannii meals on growth performance, carcass traits and internal organs of broiler chickens. The  chicks were allotted to  four dietary treatments, T₁ (0%IMM), T₂ (10%OIM), T₃ (10%TIM) and T₄ (10%FIM) each having twenty- four (24) birds and replicated three (3) times with eight (8) birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD).  The different processing methods used were oiled Icacina mannii meal (OIM), toasted Icacina mannii meal (TIM) and fermented Icacina mannii meal (FIM). Feed and water were fed ad libitum and the experiment lasted for 56 days. Data collected on growth performance, carcass traits and cost benefits of finisher broilers were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS software. At the starter phase the results showed significant (P<0.05) differences existed among all the parameters measured for growth performance except the initial body weight. At the finisher phase, birds fed oiled Icacina mannii meal (OIM) showed progressive increase in most parameters evaluated, followed by toasted Icacina mannii meal (TIM) and fermented Icacina mannii meal (FIM).  The results of the carcass traits and internal organs of birds fed differently processed Icacina mannii meals revealed that processing influenced significantly (P<0.05) the values for live weight, dressed weight, thigh, breast, and back cut while the gallbladder, lungs and the  pancreas were also affected significantly (P<0.05). The differently processed Icacina mannii meals did not show any significant (P>0.05) effect on other parameters measured. In conclusion starter and finisher broiler chickens could be fed with the different processed Icacina mannii meals at 10% inclusion level without any deleterious effect on growth performance, carcass traits and internal organs. It is therefore recommended that oiled Icacina mannii meal (OIM) should be used in compounding feeds for broiler chickens at 10% inclusion level.