Effect of processed Acacia saligna seed meal on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chicken as replacement for soya bean

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of Acacia saligna seed meal (ASSM) as a replacement for soya bean on the growth performance and carcass traits of Hubbard broiler chickens. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric treatment diets, T1 (control), T2, T3, and T4, were formulated to contain 0, 5, 10, and 15% of ASSM, respectively, as a replacement for soya beans in T1. Chicks were weighed and allocated in four treatment diets with four replicates, 6 chicks each in a complete randomized design and conducted for 6 weeks. Laboratory analysis of the nutritive composition of the feed ingredients used in the experiment) showed significant difference on crude fiber (CF) and the metabolizable energy (ME) with values ranging (8–8.95%) and (3276.8–3350 kcal/kg) respectively. The average initial body weight (IBW), Feed intake(FI), final body weight(FBW), body weight gain (BWG), daily body weight gain (DBWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality rate of broiler chickens had no significant (P > 0.05) difference across treatment diets in the experimental period. Except for wing, back, liver, and lung, there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in carcass traits across the treatment diets. Thus, inclusion of Acacia saligna seed meal up to 15% could be used to substitute soya bean seed in the diets of broiler chicken.