Effect of expeiler pressed karanj cake on the performance of broiler chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary incorporation of raw and 2% NaOH (w/w) treated expeller pressed karanj cake (EKC) on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens. Day old broiler chicks (240) divided into 6 equal groups (4 replicates of 10 chicks each) were offered either maize-soy diet, 3.6% EKC or NaOH treated EKC at 3.6, 7.2, 14.4 and 28.8% to replace the nitrogen of SBM of basal diet at 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50%, respectively for 6 weeks. The body weight gain was comparable between birds fed basal diet and alkali treated EKC at 3.6% incorporation. Feeding of EKC as such at 3.6% or alkali treated EKC at 7.2% and above resulted in growth depression. The feed intake and feed conversion ratio followed the same trend as that of body weight gain. The percent retention of DM did not show any variation up to 14.4% inclusion of alkali treated EKC in diet. The retention of N and Ca, however, decreased due to feeding of EKC as such or including more than 3.6% alkali treated EKC in diet. Dietary incorporation of EKC as such at 3.6% or alkali treated EKC up to 14.4% did not have adverse effect on dressed weight. However, the liver weight increased significantly (P<0.05) due to incorporation of EKC (3.6%) or alkali treated EKC beyond 3.6% in the diet. Breast weight was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the alkali treated EKC diet at 14.4 and 28.8% levels of incorporation. It was concluded that EKC as such is unsuitable for feeding to broiler chicken. However, alkali (2% NaOH) treated EKC could be incorporated at 3.6% (replacing 6.25% nitrogen of SBM) in the broiler chicken diet without any adverse affect on performance.