Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Baobab, Amaranthus and Tiger Nut during a Hot-dry Season

Abstract

This study investigated effects of baobab pulp (Adansonia digitata), Amaranthus hybridus and tiger nut (Cyperus esculenthus) on growth performance, cost-benefit indices and nutrient retention of heat-stressed broilers. The test ingredients were crude sources of vitamins A, C and E functioning as anti-stress for broilers during a hot-dry season. A total of 240 unsexed broiler chicks were used for the study in a completely randomized design (CRD), which lasted for 8 weeks. The birds were allotted to six treatments (each contained 40 chicks) of four replicates each. Test ingredients were included in the starter and finisher diets at 1%. Diet 1 (T1) served as the control. T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained synthetic vitamin C, baobab pulp, amaranthus and tiger nut seed respectively. T6 contained 0.3% each of baobab, amaranthus and tiger nut. Results from the study revealed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the performance indices and the nutrient retained by the birds. Broiler chickens fed baobab pulp (crude source of vitamin C, T3) had significantly more profit (P<0.05), better final body weight (P<0.05) and crude protein retention (P<0.05) than those fed amaranthus (T4), tiger nut (T5) and the mixture of the test ingredients (T6). Feed conversion ratio was at the best (1.58) in T3 while T5 gave the worst (1.64) at 4th week. Birds fed T1 gave the best (1.07) feed conversion ratio while T4 had the worst (1.26) at 8th week. T2, T3 and T5 had the least (10%) mortality compared with those fed control diet (T1), amaranthus (T4) and the mixture (T6). In conclusion, the study showed that baobab pulp could replace synthetic vitamin C as antioxidant based on growth performance of broilers and its accrued profitability during a hot-dry season in the tropics.