Growth performance and blood profile of broiler chicken fed four (4) different alternative sources of methionine

Abstract

One hundred and fifty day old broiler chicks were used in 56 days feeding trial to determine the effect
of four different types of natural sources of methionine on performance of broiler chicken. Five
broiler starter and finisher diets were formulated such that Diet 1 was the control and contained the
DL – methionine, while Diet 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 2.5% Moringa oleifera seed (MOS), Boiled
Jatropha seed (BJS), Hibiscus sabdariffa seed (HSS) and Cashew nut seed (CNS) respectively. The
birds were randomly allotted to the five diets in a completely randomized design. Each treatment
comprised of three replicates of ten (10) birds per replicates. Performance, blood and economic
analysis were monitored. The result showed that final weight (217.33 – 249.33g), daily weight gain
(6.30 – 7.63g) and feed conversion ratio (2.37 – 3.2) were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the
treatments, except average daily feed intake and mortality which were significantly (p<0.05) affected
by the treatments. The result of blood profile showed that WBC (2.49 – 3.00(x109
/L)), RBC (2.06 –
2.52(x106
/ml)), MCV (117.73 – 120.17(fl)) and PLT (19.67 – 22.33 (cells/l)) which fall within the
normal range were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the treatments, except Hb, PCV, MCH,
MCHC which wsere significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments. All biochemical indices were
not significantly (P> 0.05) affected by the treatment except cholesterol and globulin. Cost of
feeding/kg and cost of feed consumed per bird was lowest in T1 (#131.00) and was highest in T5
(#218.00). Feed cost/kg gain was highest in T5 (#496.75) but lowest in T3 (#221.24), while total
weight gain/kg was highest in T4 (1.77kg). Cost of feeding/kg and cost of feed consumed per bird was
lowest in T1 (#131.00) and was highest in T5 (#218.00). T4 (#156.00) was lowest since it contains less
anti nutritional factors than the counterpart T3 (#156.00). Feed cost/kg gain was highest in T5
(#496.75) but lowest in T3 (#221.24), while total weight gain/kg was highest in T4 (1.77kg). Based on
this study, replacement of DL – methionine with 2.5% HSS could result in higher profit margin for
poultry farmers because most of the time, consumers prefer heavy birds with high cost than light bird
with lower cost