Response of broiler birds fed African Pear (Dacryodes edulis) Seed Meal as Partial Substitution for Maize
A 49-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights, haematological indices, and serum biochemical responses of broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of Dacryodes edulis seed meal as a partial replacement for maize. A total of 150 day-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment consisted of three replicates with 10 birds per replicate. The experimental diets were formulated such that Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contained 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% Dacryodes edulis seed meal, respectively, as partial substitution for dietary maize. Birds were raised on deep litter pens with wood shavings and provided feed and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Growth performance parameters, including feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were evaluated. Final body weight did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among treatment groups, with values ranging from 1451.77 g to 1616.90 g. However, birds fed the 20% inclusion diet recorded the best feed conversion ratio (2.65), indicating improved feed utilization efficiency. Carcass characteristics differed significantly (p < 0.05) across treatments, except for drumstick yield, which remained statistically similar among the groups. Haematological parameters showed significant (p < 0.05) variations among treatments, except for white blood cell count (WBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Red blood cell (RBC) count was highest in birds fed the 10% inclusion diet, while the highest WBC and Hb values were recorded in birds fed the 5% inclusion diet. Serum biochemical indices were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. Total protein concentration was highest in birds fed the 20% inclusion diet, whereas creatinine concentration was highest in the control group. The results of this study indicate that Dacryodes edulis seed meal can effectively replace maize in broiler diets at inclusion levels up to 20% without adverse effects on growth performance, carcass yield, haematological characteristics, or serum biochemical indices. Therefore, Dacryodes edulis seed meal has considerable potential as an alternative energy feed ingredient for sustainable and cost-effective broiler production.
Keywords: broiler chickens; Dacryodes edulis; African pear seed meal; carcass characteristics; haematology; serum biochemistry; alternative feed resources.
