PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS GIVEN DIFFERENT DIETARY LEVELS OF ACACIA SIEBERIANA DC. VAR. SIEBERIANA SEEDS

The study was aimed at evaluating the seeds of a leguminous plant, Acacia sieberiana DC as an alternative source of dietary plant protein for broilers. Five experimental diets containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20% Acacia sieberiana seeds (ASS) were formulated and fed to 5 groups of birds during starter (0 - 4 weeks), grower (5 - 8 weeks) and finisher (9-12 weeks) periods respectively. There were 3 replicates per treatment, with 10 birds per replicate. At the end of the experiment, average weekly liveweight gains of 128.90 ±24.17, 122.68±25.09, 112.79 ± 22.83, 96.40 ± 21.53 and 99.56 + 21.53g were obtained for the birds on 0, 5, 10 and 20% ASS inclusion respectively. The average weekly feed consumption values were 413.47 ± 63.63, 408.59 ± 63.82, 304.60 ± 61.70, 347.96 ± 58.0 and 352.83 ± 59.76g for the birds on 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% ASS respectively. The feed efficiencies were 0.289 ± 0.03, 0.272± 0.03, 0.264 + 0.03, 0.248 ± 0.03 and 0.253 ± 0.03 for the birds on 0. 5. 10. 15 and 20% ASS respectively. The data revealed that in general, the birds on 0, 5 and 10% ASS inclusion performed better (PÇ<.05) than birds on 15 or 20% ASS. Results of carcass evaluation show that the gizzard, lungs and heads of the control birds had significantly (PÇ<.05) higher weights than those of birds on 15 and 20% ASS. From these results it can be concluded that up to 10% ASS could be incorporated into poultry diet without deleterious effect on broilers.