Effects of Feeding Roasted Canarium schweinfurthii Seed Meal on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chicken

Aims: The study was conducted to determine the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diet with roasted Canarium schweinfurthii (atili) seed meal.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty (120) two weeks old chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments containing 0% (control) T1, 2.5% (T2), 5% (T3), and 7.5% (T4) of roasted Canarium seed meal (RCSM) respectively, in a completely randomized design. Thirty birds per treatment with three replicate of ten birds each for six weeks. The parameters measured were performance indices (initial and final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio {FCR} was calculated). The carcass parameter include live weight, bled weight, carcass weight, breast weight, thigh weight, drumstick weight, wings weight, neck weight, back weight, spleen weight, gizzard weight, liver weight, heart weight and lungs weight. The abdominal fat weight was removed, weighted and grossly examined for any pathological changes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and ANOVA at α0.05.

Results: There was a significant variation in final weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio. There was no significant difference in the live weight, bled weight, carcass weight, breast weight, thigh weight, drumstick weight, wings weight, neck weight, back weight, spleen weight, gizzard weight, liver weight, heart weight, lungs weight and abdominal fat weight of the birds for all the treatments.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that roasted Canarium schweifurthii (atili) seed meal inclusion in the diets of broiler chicken at 5% has no negative effect on the performance and carcass characteristics.