Nutritional Evaluation of Icacinia manni (Earth Ball) Processed in Saline as a Source of Dietary Energy in Broiler Production

Abstract

The effect of Icacinia manni meal fermented in saline on the performance, carcass and internal organ characteristics were determined in a 65-day feeding trial. Proximate composition of the meal showed that Icacinia manni is high in crude protein, crude fibre and Ash. Three (3) experimental diets were formulated both at the starter phase and finisher phase. Diet 1 (control) contained maize as source of energy; diet 2 and 3 contained Icacinia manni fermented in saline (IMS) at 10% and 20% levels; partly replacing maize in the diet. One hundred and eighty day old broiler chicks were used for the experiment. The birds were divided into three groups of 60 birds each and each group assigned to one of the experimental diets using completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was further subdivided in 4 replicate of 15 birds. The values of feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significantly (p  different. The dressed weight, live weight, gizzard, liver and abdominal fat followed the same trend. Significant (p  difference was recorded in the heart and kidney weight. The 20% IMS recorded a higher heart and kidney weight than the control. It was concluded that Icacinia manni meal can be included in broiler diet up to 20% if fermented in saline.