Performance of broiler chickens fed various levels of raw and boiled nere (Parkia biglobosa, Jacq. Benth) seeds meal in Dakar region, Senegal

This work was carried out in Dakar’s region (Sangalkam) from November to December 2017 to evaluate the effects of raw and boiled Nere (Parkia biglobosa) seeds meal incorporation in the diets on growth performances, carcass and organ characteristics and economic profit margins in broilers chicken. For this, 295 unsexed Cobb5₀₀ broilers of two weeks old were randomly distributed into 5 groups of 59 subjects of similar live weights, corresponding each to 5 experimental diets PB₀ (control), PBR₁₀, PBR₂₀, PBB₂₀ and PBB₃₀, containing respectively 0, 10, 20% of raw; 20 and 30% of boiled Nere seeds meal in partial substitution of groundnut cake. The results showed that P. biglobosa seeds meal incorporation up to 20% (raw) or 30% (boiled) in the broilers chicken diets, did not adversely affect their health. It significantly improved live body weights, average daily weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass and organ weights of birds in PBR₁₀, PBR₂₀, PBB₂₀ and PBB₃₀ compared to the control, except the FCR of broilers fed PBB₃₀. Consequently, they have generated the gross margins feed per kg carcass which remained significantly lower than that of the control dietary treatment. It was concluded that P. biglobosa seeds can be incorporated up to 20% raw and 30% if boiled, in the broilers diet without affecting their zootechnical performances. In case of high availability, these seeds could constitute an analternative feed resource for improving broiler feed in Senegal and in sub-Saharan Africa.