Growth performance and economic evaluation of broiler Chicken fed with rain tree (Samanea saman) seed meal

Abstract

An 8-week experiment was conducted to assess the growth performance of broiler chicken served with rain tree (Samanea saman) seed meal as alternative source of protein. The study was conducted at the Animal Science Department at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. The chicks were divided into four treatments and each treatment was replicated thrice with 20 chicks per replicate in a completely randomised design. S. saman seed meal was included at 20, 40 and 60 g in the diets as replacement for fish meal and soybean meal from the 3rd to 8th week. The results of the analysis indicated that 20 g S. saman seed meal diet resulted in higher weight gain (1.02 kg) and feed intake (1.48) but lower feed conversion efficiency (69%). Control treatment containing 100% fish meal and soybean meal had the best feed conversion efficiency (92%). The result of this study shows that 100% fish meal and soybean meal diet (0 g of S. saman seed meal) was more expensive Gh¢ 46.65 per kg of feed than the S. saman seed meal at 60 g (Gh¢ 44.62 kg; 1$ = 3.92 Gh¢). The cost and return analysis shows that 20 g diet gave the highest return (Gh¢ 5,905.08), followed by 0 g of S. saman seed meal (Gh¢ 4,346.07) and Gh¢ 2,380.20 for 40 g S. saman seed meal diet. For improved growth rate and higher profit margin, it is advisable to include 20 g S. saman seed meal per 100 kg broiler chicken diet.