Utilisation of Mucuna Beans (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC ssp. deeringianum (Bart) Hanelt) to Feed Growing Broilers

Abstract

Performance of broilers fed on diets containing mucuna beans (MB) (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC ssp. deeringianum (Bart) Hanelt) with different treatments were studied in three experiments. First experiment: three sorghum diets using 0 and 280g/kg of MB raw or soaked were evaluated. Second experiment: three sorghum diets using 0 and 280g/kg of MB raw or boiled were evaluated. Third experiment: six maize diets: maize only, three diets containing 280g/kg of MB raw, soaked or boiled, one containing soybean and a balanced diet (control) were evaluated. Experiment one: the birds fed on the 0g MB/kg showed a higher live weight gain (LWG) and a lower feed:gain ratio (FG) (p < 0.01) than birds fed on the MB diets. There were no differences for any of the variables studied between the birds fed on the MB diets. Experiment two: the birds fed on the 0g MB/kg performed better (p < 0.01) than birds fed on the MB diets. However, birds fed on the boiled MB diet had a higher LWG and a lower FG (p < 0.01) than birds fed on the raw and soaked MB diet. Experiment three: the birds fed on the control diet obtained a higher LWG (p < 0.01) than birds fed on the remainder treatments. The birds fed on the raw MB diet had a lower FG (p < 0.01) than birds on the remainder treatments. However, birds fed on the boiled MB had a higher LWG and feed intake than birds fed on raw and soaked MB diets and only maize diet (p < 0.01), but, lower (p < 0.01) in comparison to birds fed on the soybean diet. The birds on the raw and soaked MB diets performed worst (p < 0.01), even in comparison to birds fed on only maize (p < 0.01). The results from these experiments indicated that inclusion of 280g MB/kg in the diet affected adversely the poultry performance. However, utilisation of MB boiled improved the broilers performance compared to birds fed on the raw and soaked MB diets.