| Popis: |
The scarcity and increasing cost of conventional plant protein sources prompted researches into potential feed resources that are relatively of less importance to man. Loofah gourd (Luffa cylindrical (M.J. Roem) is a plant that is widely available in most tropical, subtropical and temperate region. In Nigeria it grows luxuriantly uncultivated and the sponge is often used for domestic cleaning while the seeds are discarded. The seeds were de-hulled, milled and fed at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% dietary levels of inclusion as partial/total replacement for groundnut cake. One hundred and fifty (150) day-old broiler chicks were divided into five (5) groups and each was fed the experimental diets for fifty six (56) days in a completely randomised design (CRD) arrangement. Data collected included the average feed intake (AFI), average weight gain (AWG), live weight (LW) feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), haematology indices such as pack cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC) and haemoglobin (Hb), serological variables such as Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartic aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and carcass characteristics. Loofah gourd seed meal (LGSM) significantly (P |
