Abstract:
The
proximate
and
mineral
composition,
the
saponin
content
and
energy
value
of
sheabutter
cake
were
determined
as a preliminary
assessment
of its
potential
as poultry
feedstuff.
This
study
also
examined
the
effect
of the
inclusion
of sheabuttr
cake
in the
diets
of pullets
on
growth
performance
for
8 weeks
of age.
One
hundred
and
twenty-day-
old
Boven
Nera
strain
of pullet
chicks
were
fed
three
diets
containing
0, 10,
and
20%
sheabutter
cake.
Sheabutter
cake
contained
CP,
18.1%;
EE,
15.8%;
Ash,
4.8%;
CF,
10.7%
and
NFE,
50.6%;
Ca,
0.27%;
P,
0.2%;
Mg,
0.13~;
Na,
1.37%;
K,
1.43%;
Cu,
0.02%
and
Fe,
1.96%.
Saponin;
an
antinutritional
factor
was
detected
in the
sheabutter
cake
and
quantified
to be
0.014%.
The
metabolisable
energy
was
calculated
to be
19.62
MJlKg.
The
results
showed
that
pullet
chicks
could
tolerate
10%
sheabutter
cake
in their
diets
up
to 8 weeks
of age
without
adverse
effect
on
daily
feed
intake
and
daily
weight
gain.
Feed/gain
ratio
decreased
(P<0.05)
as dietary
levels
of sheabutter
cake
increased
to
20%.
