Prosopis Africana (African Mesquite) Oil Supplemented Feed for Broiler Chickens: Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Prosopis africana (African mesquite) oil supplemented feed for broiler chickens: growth performance and nutrient digestibility. 300 1-day old broiler chicks (Ross 307) of mixed sex with an initial body weight of 48.10 ± 0.2 g were used for this experiment. Birds were randomly distributed into five groups of sixty birds each in a completely randomized design. Experimental (basal) diet was formulated to meet the requirements of broilers according to NRC (1994). Clean water and feed were offered ad libitum and the experiment lasted for fifty six days. Diet 1 (D1) consists of basal diet with 2.5 g/kg Oxytetracycline, D2, D3, D4 and D5 were fed basal diet supplemented with Prosopis africana oil at 600 mg, 800 mg, 1000 mg and 1200 mg/kg. Final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed intake of broilers fed diet 3, 4 and 5 were similar (P˃0.05) but significantly higher than diet 1 and 2. Feed conversion ratio of birds in diet 4 were similar (P˃0.05) to those fed diet 5, but significantly higher than those in diet 1, 2 and 3. Mortality were higher (P˂0.05) in T1 (2.06 %) and lowest in T2 (1.00 %), however, none was recorded in the other group. Dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, nitrogen free extract and ether extract digestibility were significantly (P˂0.05) influenced by dietary supplementation of Prosopis africana oil. In conclusion, Prosopis africana oil contains several bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties and can be supplemented up to 1200 mg in the diet of broiler chickens without posing any negative effect on the performance of birds.