ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to evaluate the response of turkey Poults fed diets in which velvet

bean meal (Mucuna sloanei) replaced soyabean meal. Seven treatments were used for the

research work in which velvet bean meal replaced soya bean meal at 0, 10, 20, 30,40 50, and 60

percent levels respectively. One hundred and forty seven (147) day old turkey poults was used

for the study. The birds was weighed individually and randomly allotted to each treatment. Each

treatment consists of three replicates with seven birds per replicate in completely randomized

design. The study lasted for 8 weeks during which water and feed were given to the birds ad

libitwn. The parameters measured were growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics,

economics of production, haematological indices and serum chemistry of turkeys. Data collected

were analyzed using ANOVA. The result obtained in this study showed final body weight of

turkeys fed diet 1 (1145.19g), diet 2 (1136.73g), and diet 3 (1 149.23g) were significantly

(P<0.05) higher than others. The average daily weight gain of turkeys fed diet 1 (19.54g), diet 2

(19.38g), and dIet 3 (19.60g) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than others. The FCR obtained

showed that turkeys fed diet 1 (2.69), diet 2 (2.66) and diet 3 (2.55) had the least values. This

means that birds on diets 1,2 and 3 were better utilized by the birds for weight gain than birds on

other treatment diets. The average daily feed intake obtained ranged from 42.44g for turkeys fed

diet 7 to 52.62g for turkeys fed diet 1. There was significant differences (P<0.05) in the live

weight, dressed weight, and dressed percentage. The carcass cut parts which is expressed as a

percentage of live weight showed that there was no significant differences (P>0.05) in the

parameters measured such as thigh, back cut, drumstick, and wings except the breast cut which

differed significantly (P>0.05) among the treatment groups while the organ proportions showed

that there was no significant differences (P>0.05) in the parameters measured such as heart, liver,

gizzard, proventiculus, spleen, and kidney except the intestine which differed significantly

(P<0.05) among the treatment groups. There was significant differences (P<zO.05) in the mean

corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) while there was no

significant differences (P>0.05) in the haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood

cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

recorded across the treatment groups. There was significant differences (P<0.05) in the total

protein and cholesterol while there was no significant differences (P>0.05) in the albumin,

globulin, glucose, creatinine, and urea recorded across the treatment groups. There was

significant differences (P<0.05) in the total feed intake, cost of production, weight gained,

revenue and gross margin while there was no significant differences (P<0.05) in the cost of diet

and cost per weight gained among the treatment groups. In conclusion, the improve performance

of turkeys fed diet 2, 3 and 4 which were comparable to the control diet tends to suggest that up

to 30% velvet bean meal can be used to replace soyabean meal in turkey diets for normal

efficient utilization of feed by birds. In addition, the blood quality of turkeys fed treatment diets

containing velvet bean meal were favorably comparable to that of control diet 1. Therefore,

velvet bean meal can be used to replace soyabean meal at 30% in turkey diets for good

performance.