Effect of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed Meal on the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

Journal Title: Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research - Year 2017, Vol 2, Issue 3

Abstract

A 56 days study was conducted using two hundred (200) Anak – 2000 one week old chicks to evaluate the effects of feeding varying levels of pumpkin seed meal (PSM) on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. The chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments consisting of four replicates of ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Five broiler chicken (starter and finisher) diets were formulated such that diet T1 (control) contained 0.0% pumpkin seed meal (PSM) while diets T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.00% and 20.0% PSM respectively. The study lasted for 56 days. The result of growth performance showed that, final body weight, total body weight gain and average daily weight gain significantly increased (P<0.05) as the levels of PSM increased in the diets. While total feed intake and feed conversion ratio did not differ significantly among dietary treatments There was significant differences (P<0.05) among dietary treatments for live weight and dressed weight, though no particular pattern was observed. Dressing percent, breast, thigh, abdominal fat, kidney, gizzard, liver and lungs weights did not differ significantly as the levels of PSM increased in the diets. It was concluded from the study that pumpkin seed meal is a good source of crude protein and can substitute soybean meal in a broiler chicken diet up to 20.00% since the study did not record any adverse effect on the internal organs.

Authors and Affiliations

R. J. Wafar, M. I. Hannison, U. Abdullahi, A. Makinta

Keywords

Related Articles

Efficiency of Selected Fungicides on Blast and Blight of Rice Leaves

The effect of pathogens on grains is closely related to the severity of the disease on plants. Similarly, infection of leaves is very important in epidemic of blast and blight. The objective of this study was to develop...

Processed Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Pod Husks in Rabbits Diet: Effect on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Indices

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of processed Cocoa pod husk on haematological and biochemical indices of rabbits. Study Design: Completely Randomized Design. Place and Duration of Study: The exper...

Weather Variability Influence on Occurrence and Damages of Mononychellus tanajoa Bonder (Acarina: Tetranychidae) on Selected Cassava Varieties in the Lake Zone, Tanzania

A study was conducted in the Lake Zone, the leading cassava producing Zone in Tanzania during the 2015 and 2016 dry seasons. It was aimed at establishing the influence of the weather variables on occurrence and damages c...

Nutritonal Properties of Composite Flour (Blends of Rice (Oryza sativa), Acha (Digitaria exilis) and Soybeans (Glycine max) and Sensory Properties of Noodles Produced from the Flour

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional properties of composite flour made from rice, acha, soy beans and wheat, and to assess the sensory acceptability of the noodles made from the composite flour. Differ...

Effect of Processing Methods on the Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of Pigeon Pea Seed

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of toasting, boiling, germination and fermentation on the chemical composition, antinutrient contents and functional properties of pigeon pea flour. Place and Durati...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP337293
  • DOI 10.9734/AJAAR/2017/35742
  • Views 139
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

R. J. Wafar, M. I. Hannison, U. Abdullahi, A. Makinta (2017). Effect of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed Meal on the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, 2(3), 1-7. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-337293