Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatanagar-243122, India.
*Reprint request: Dr. A.K. Panda, Project Directorate on Poultry, Hyderabad-500 030, India Tel: +91-40-24017000; Fax:+91-40-24017002, E-mail: akpanda59@rediffmail.com
1Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India.
An experiment on nutrient retention and immune competence in broiler chickens was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary incorporation of raw and/or processed karanj (Pongamia glabra) cake such as solvent extracted karanj cake (SKC), 1.5% NaOH treated SKC and 3% Ca(OH)2 treated SKC and 2% NaOH treated expeller pressed karanj cake (EKC) by partially replacing soybean meal nitrogen of reference diet at 12.5, 25 and 50 percent, respectively. Thus, a total of 13 different isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated and fed ad libitum throughout the experimental period. After 42 d of experimental feeding, a balance study of four days duration was conducted on all birds to determine the nutrient retention. Immune response of broiler chickens was assessed by measuring phagocytic index (PI, 28d), cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity (CBH) response to PHA-P (35d) and humoral immune response (HIR) to sheep red blood cells (42d). On 43d post feeding, four birds from each dietary group were sacrificed and the weights of lymphoid organs were recorded. The intake of DM, N, GE, Ca and P decreased with increase in the levels of both treated and untreated karanj cake in the diet. No difference could, however, be found in the percent retention of all the nutrients. Neither the PI nor the CBH response to PHA-P differed significantly due to incorporation of raw and processed karanj cake replacing soybean meal nitrogen up to 50% of reference diet. However, the HIR was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the chicks fed diet replacing soybean protein with that of NaOH treated EKC at 50 percent level as compared to that in reference diet. The percent live weight of spleen, bursa and thymus were similar in all the dietary groups at six weeks of age. The percent live weight of pancreas was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the chicks fed diet incorporated with NaOH EKC replacing soybean meal nitrogen at 50 percent level of reference diet. It is concluded that, soybean meal protein can thus be replaced with NaOH and Ca(OH)2 treated SKC at 12.5 percent level, without adversely affecting nutrient intake and retention and immune competence in broiler chickens.
Karanj cake, Nutrient retention, Immune competence, Broiler chickens
