Effect of Dietary Processed Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) Seeds on Layers and Broilers Performance

Abstract

Five experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of raw and processed Cajanus cajan seeds (decorticated, roasted and soaked) for layers and broilers as plant protein. Tannin and trypsin inhibitors were determined, moreover to assess the effects of seed processing on broilers meat, egg quality and profitability. In experiment one, 63 Bovan layers of 22 weeks of age were used for 20 weeks. Three experimental diets with 10% corticated roasted and 10% decorticated roasted C. cajan seeds and control diets were used. All diets approximately isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The diets were formulated to meet the nutrients requirements of National Research Council (NRC, 1984). The parameters studied were feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg weight, egg albumin height, shape index, yolk colour, shell thickness, total lipids, phospolipids, cholesterol, nutrient intake, and profitability. Birds were distributed randomly into three dietary treatments, 21 birds/treatment with 3 birds/replicate in a complete randomize design. Results revealed that, layers received diets with 10% corticated roasted or decorticated roasted C. cajan seeds showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in egg production, body weight change, egg weight, mortality rate and shell thickness, while there were significant decrease (P < 0.05) in feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) with inclusion of corticated roasted or decorticated C. cajan in layers diets, inclusion of 10% decorticated roasted C. cajan seeds significantly decreased (P < 0.05) egg yolk cholesterol level and increased profit. The tannin content of decorticated roasted seeds was decreased by 96% compared to corticated roasted seed (0.30 – 0.01). In the second experiment, 60 Bovan layers of 42 weeks of age were used for this study. Four dietary treatments with graded levels of raw C. cajan seeds (0%, 15%, 20% and 25%) were formulated to meet nutrient requirement outline by NRC (1984). All diets were approximately isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Birds were distributed randomly into four treatments, 15 birds/treatment 3 bird/replicates in a complete randomize design, and the study lasted for six weeks. Feeding layers diets with different levels of raw C. cajan seeds, had no significant effects (P > 0.05) on egg weight, shape index, shell weight, shell thickness, percentage of shell wt/egg wt and mortality. However, inclusion of 20% raw C. cajan seeds in ration significantly (P < 0.05) increased rate of lay, decreased feed intake, FCR, and increased total egg production, albumin height and profit percentage. In experiment three, 200 unsexed broiler chicks (Lohman) were used. Four dietary treatments containing (10%) of processed C. cajan seeds (raw, decorticated, roasted and control diets), were formulated substitute 2.5% superconcentrate to meet the requirement outlined by NRC (1984). All diets were approximately isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Birds were distributed randomly into four dietary treatments, (50 birds/treatment) with 5 replicates/treatment, 10 birds/replicate in a complete randomized design. The study lasted for six weeks. Results showed that inclusion of C. cajan had no significant (P > 0.05) effects on feed intake, energy intake, live weight, hot weight, dressing percentage, pancreas and liver weight and serum cholesterol. However, broiler received diet containing 10% roasted and 10% decorticated C. cajan seed diets had significant higher (P < 0.05) feed intake, weight gain, serum protein, phospholipid and significant (P < 0.05) low level of serum cholesterol, and low feed cost. In experiment 4, the diets were formulated to contain four levels % of soaked C. cajan seeds (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%). Tannin and trypsin levels were determined as 0.08% and 0.68 mg/g, respectively. 200 unsex day old broiler chicks were used for six weeks. Birds were distributed randomly into 4 dietary treatments with 5 replicates (10 birds/replicate) in a complete randomized design. Result revealed that, dietary inclusion of different levels of soaked C. cajan seeds had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on weekly feed intake, energy intake, live and hot weight dressing percentage, pancreas and spleen weight, serum cholesterol. However, inclusion of 10% dietary soaked C. cajan seeds significantly (P < 0.05) increased overall feed intake, serum total lipids, cholesterol, protein, methionine, and lysine intake, and decreased (FCR) and cost of production. In experiment five, inclusion of (10%) levels of C. cajan seeds raw, decorticated, roasted and soaked, in broilers finishing diets were examined, the diets were formulated to be isocaloric, isonitrogenous and to meet the requirement of broilers as outlined by NRC (1984). 200 unsexed day old broilers (Ross 308) were distributed randomly into five dietary treatments with 4 replicates (10 birds/replicate) in a complete randomized design. Broilers fed control diets till 5 weeks and on processed C. cajan diets for other 3 weeks (finishing period). Results demonstrated that, dietary processed C. cajan seeds diets significantly increase (P < 0.05) feed intake, weight gain, FCR. However, dietary treatments had insignificant effect (P > 0.01) on weight gain, total body weight, energy intake, nutrient intake, as protein, lysine, and methionine were significantly increased (P < 0.05) with inclusion of processed C. cajan seeds in finishing diets. Broilers fed on diets supplemented with 10% decorticated and roasted C. cajan seeds performed better when compared with the other tested groups. Results of C. cajan seeds digestibility demonstrated an improve retention of dry matter, protein and ether extract of decorticated seeds compared to other treated seeds. The result obtained from this study confirmed that processing method used for C. cajan seeds improved performance, reduced cost of production, increased profitability and decreased the level of tannin and trypsin inhibitors, increased apparent retention of DM, CP and EE, respectively. It can be concluded that inclusion of raw C. cajan seeds in layers ration and the processed C. cajan seeds in broilers or layers rations has no negative effect on performance and egg quality.