Growth Performance of Pullet Chicks fed graded levels of Sheabutter Cake

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%.