Growth and Haematological Response of Broiler Starter Chickens Fed Diets Containing Shea Butter Cake

Abstract

This study investigated the proximate, anti-nutritional, amino acid and mineral elements constituent of Shea butter cake (a by-product of shea butter extraction). Proximate analysis of Shea butter cake revealed 92.57% dry matter containing 12.70%crude protein, 5.96%crude fiber, 0.84% oil, 3.77% ash, 76.72%nitrogen free extract -nutrients determined in shea butter cake were phytate(4.60 mg/100g), Hydrogen cyanide(2.90 mg/100g), saponins(1.15 mg/100g) and tannins(0.11mg/100g). Upon establishment of the nutritive values, feeding trial was conducted with two hundred and twenty five 1 day “Ross” broiler chicks, randomly allocated to five treatments in triplicates to investigate the growth performance, haematological characteristics of broiler chicks fed diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% shea butter cake meal (SBCM) respectively. Routine vaccination and medication typical of broiler were strictly adhered to. The initial weight, weekly weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, feed cost/Kg and feed cost/ weight gain were obtained. Result show that birds on control (0%) and 10% SBCM were similar (p>0.05) in terms of weight gained 523.33±18.56g and 538.33±6.00grespectively and superior to those of levels 30 and 40% (530.67±4.70 and521.67±5.83). Feed conversion ratio (FCR), cost of feed per Kg, cost of feed per Kg weight gain declined as the level of SBCM increased from 0-40%. FCR for birds on 0 and 10% diets were not significantly different (p>0.05). Haematological parameters obtained after the 28-day trial showed that packed cell volume (21.63 -25.53%), haemoglobin (7.21- 8.51g/dl), white blood cell (13.61-14.26x103?l) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (26.60 – 28.38g/dl) were within acceptable range for avian haematological standards. The health of the birds was not affected by dietary treatments as all indices obtained were within the normal values.