Abstract
This study evaluates the performance characteristics of Marshal strain broiler chicks (n = 180) fed Aspergillus niger treated Jatropha curcas kernel meals. Jatropha curcas kernels were subjected to five different processing methods, namely: Raw Defatted Fermented Meal (RDFM), Toasted Defatted Fermented Meal (TDFM), Cooked Defatted Fermented Meal (CDFM), Lye treated Defatted Fermented Meal (LDFM) and Sand roasted Defatted Fermented Meal (ZRFM) for a 21 day period in a completely randomized design model. Six (6) dietary treatments were formulated such that Diet 1 contained 0% Jatropha curcas kernel Meal while diets 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 contained 10.33% (one-third replacement of soybean meal) inclusion level of RDFM, TDFM, CDFM, LDFM and ZDFM. It was observed that Fermentation had little effect on the CP though there was an increase in RDFM, meanwhile the antinutrients increased except for phorbol esters. The improved average daily feed intake, average daily gain and mortality in birds fed the dietary treatments could be attributed to the reduced phorbol esters during fermentation while the varying levels of hepatic degeneration can be attributed to the residual antinutrients in the meals. It can be concluded that the birds cannot tolerate the 10.33% inclusion level.
