title: Effect of replacement of maize with earth ball (Icacinia manni) meal on the performance of broiler chickens.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the replacement value of earth ball for maize in broiler diets. A feeding trial was conducted for eight weeks using 220 unsexed Anak 2000 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design to assess the effect of replacement of maize with Icacinia manni meal at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% on the performance. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, containing 24% crude protein and 3095 Kcal kg-' ME in the starter ration and 21% crude protein and 3204 Kcal kg-' ME in the finisher mash. The birds were randomly distributed into 5 treatments with two replicates containing 22 birds each making a total of 44 birds per treatment. Results showed that in the starter phase, dietary treatments had significantly (p<0.05) least feed intake, body weight gain in the 45 and 60% Icacinia manni meal diets, but not significantly (p>0.05) different in mortality and feed conversion ratio. Significant differences (p<0.05) were also observed in feed intake and body weight gain in the finisher phase. Birds on 0 and 15% Icacinia manni meal diets consumed more feed and were heavier (p<0.05) than those on 30, 45 and 60% Icacinia meal diets. Mortality and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different (p>0.05) at the finisher phase. Birds on 0 and 15% Icacinia meal inclusion exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher dressed weight, kidney, liver, lung, shank, intestine, neck and gizzard weights. The study concludes that Icacinia manni meal could replace maize up to 15% in broiler diets without deleterious effect on performance, which holds great potential as feed ingredient in poultry nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Umoren
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Isika
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Asanga
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Ezeigwe
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D003313:Zea mays