Effect of Maize with Ajar Seed Meal in the Diets of Broiler Chicken on Voluntary Feed Intake and Nutrients Digestibility

Ajar (Lagerstroemia ftos-reginae) seed meal (ASM), a forest byproduct contained 10.26% crude protein, 2.47% ether extract, 18.68% crude fibre, 62.31% nitrogen free extract, 6.28% total ash and 2574.3 Kcal per kg metaboliz-able energy, Inclusion of ASM in broiler diets replacing maize at 0,5,10 and 15% dietary levels improved voluntary feed intake to 120.22,125.31, 135.08 and 136.29 g per bird per day, respectively. Digestibility of dry matter (61.20–56.56%), crude protein (55.59–53.18%), crude fibre (30.82–26.30%), ether extract(68.26–67.89%) and nitrogen free extract (72.19–68.98%) as well as retention of nitrogen (55.56–53.26%), calcium (51.42–48.84%)) and phosphorus (50.00–47.19%) was on a decreasing trend with increasing dietary ASM levels. However ASM can be incorporated in broiler.diets replacing maize up to 15% level without any adverse effect.