ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the interaction effect of different methods of processing of African breadfruit (Treculia africana) and its level of dietary inclusion on the performance of local turkeys. Nine treatment diets in which raw boiled and roasted African breadfruit combined with 10, 20 and 30 percent levels of inclusion, respectively were formulated for both turkey starter and grower phases; constituting a 3x3 factorial experiment, in Completely Randomized Design. A total of 135 local turkey poults were randomly allotted into nine treatment diets of fifteen birds each replicated three times with five birds per replicate. They were kept in deep litter and fed ad libitum during the study that lasted 16 weeks. Average final weight (g), weight gain (g), feed intake (g), feed conversion ratio and percentage mortality were recorded. Results indicated that there were significant interaction effect (P<0.05) in the final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the birds fed the treatment diets. Diet 5 (B20) with 20% boiled African breadfruit gave the highest values for final weight and weight gain of turkeys fed the various diets, though it was not significantly different (P>0.05) from birds that were fed diets 8 and 9 (20 and 30% roasted African breadfruit) respectively. Turkeys that were fed diets 2, 3 and 5 (20 and 30% raw African breadfruit and 20% boiled African breadfruit) were observed to have better conversion of feed to meat (FCR). There was no mortality related to the diets consumed by the birds. Carcass nutrient composition showed that carcass crude protein and crude fibre content were significantly higher (P<0.05) for turkeys that were fed diet 1 (10% raw African breadfruit), diet 2 (20% raw African breadfruit), and diet 3(30% raw African breadfruit). Crude fat was found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) for birds fed diet 1 and significantly lower (P<0.05) for birds fed diet 6 (B30). The overall economic analysis revealed that cost of production was significantly higher (P<0.05) for birds fed diet 9 (T30), while those fed diets 2 and 3 were significantly (P<0.05) the least. Revenue and gross margin was highest for birds fed diet 5. Dress percentage and drum stick were higher for birds fed diet 5, while breastcut, wing and backcut percentages were not significantly different (P>0.05) for all the birds fed the different diets. There were also significant interaction effects (P<0.05) in all the values of the internal organs of turkeys fed the treatment diets. Turkeys fed diet 3 (R30) had the highest intestine size, which as well was significantly different (P<0.05) from those fed the other diets. The toxic nature of raw African breadfruit seed (ABS) may have increased digestive activities in the intestine, thereby influencing the proportion of the intestine of the turkeys fed diet 3.The result of this study showed that grower turkeys could be fed raw, boiled and toasted African Breadfruit Seed Meal (ABSM) included diets up to 30% without any adverse effect; although 20% inclusion of boiled ABSM gave the best result in terms of performance and profitability. Above 30% of the different processing methods may adversely affect productivity of Birds.