Productive performance of broiler birds fed Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meal containing diets

Abstract. A forty-two day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of diets containing Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meal on the productive performance of broilers on feed intake, body weight, carcass and organ characteristics. Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit was processed and incorporated in the diets at 0%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% dietary levels, represented as T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively, for both starter (7-28 days of age) and finisher phase (28-49 days of age). One hundred and twenty unsexed abor acre broiler birds were brooded for seven days and thereafter 30 birds were randomly allotted to four treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) and each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. The data collected showed significant (p<0.05) differences for feed intake, body weight changes and feed conversion ratio for both starter and finisher broilers. Live weight, dressed weight and dressing percentage were significantly better for T1 across the treatments (p<0.05). Wing, drumstick breast muscle and thigh cuts were significantly improved at the treatment groups (p<0.05). The gizzard, heart, and spleen were significantly (p<0.05) higher at T1. Liver also differed significantly (p<0.05) with T4 having the highest weight over other treatments. It could therefore be concluded that T2 produced the best body weight and should be recommended for enhanced broiler production.