Growth performance of broiler chickens fed on sprouted-papaya seed based diets.

Abstract

The study investigated how sprouted-papaya seed meal (SPSM) a total of affected the growth and carcase traits of broilers. Based on a completely randomized design, 390 day-old Lohmann broiler chicks were allotted to CONT (chicks provided with control diet), SEED25 (diet containing 2.5% papaya seed meal), GERM1 (diet containing 1% SPSM), GERM25 (diet containing 2.5% SPSM) and GERM5 (diet containing 5% SPSM). Body weight and feed intake of chickens were weekly recorded from 14 to 36 days of age, while birds (six birds per treatment group; 30 birds in total) were slaughtered at day 36. Feeding SPSM up to 5% did not impair (p > 0.05) broilers' growth or feed intake. At 5%, SPSM compromised (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) and reduced breast meat proportion. SPSM at 2.5% in diets had no (p > 0.05) detrimental effects, while papaya seed meal at the same proportion lowered (p < 0.05) final body weight, weight gain, and cumulative feed intake. Overall, SPSM may be incorporated in broiler rations up to 2.5% with no harmful effects on growth, feed intake, FCR and carcase traits of broiler chickens.