Determination of the optimum dietary levels of cracked and cooked jackbean meal for finisher broilers

A 35-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary level(s) of cracked and cooked (CAC) jackbean meal for finisher broilers. Five diets were formulated such that they contained cracked and cooked jackbean meal ai 0%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% levels respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of 45 finisher broiler birds beginning at 5 weeks of age. Average daily feed intake of the groups were 99.00g, 95.00g, 89.00g, 89.00g and 90.00g for the control, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% respectively. Body weight gains were 34.00g, 33.00g, 30.00g, 27.00g and 23.00g respectively and feed conversion ratio for the groups were 2.95, 2.88, 2.91, 3.25 and 3.83 respectively. There were no significant (P >0.05) differences among the control (0%), 15% and 20% groups in feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The 25% und 30% groups however, showed significantly (P < 0.05) depressed body weight gain and poor feed conversion ratio. Organ weights of the birds relative to body weight did not indicate any significant differences among the five experimental groups. The results of this trial suggest that the optimal dietary inclusion of cracked and cooked jackbean meal for finisher broiler is 20%