Evaluation of Processed Velvet Bean (Mucuna Pruriens) as a Feed Ingredient in Starter Diets for Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Raw Mucuna pruriens seed meal contains 30-32% crude protein, but also contains toxic substances, which limit its use as a feed ingredient for non-ruminant animals. Results on the use of M. pruriens seed in poultry nutrition have shown that heat treatment alone could only improve the nutritive value of Mucuna bean to the extent of 10% dietary level for broilers. A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing cracked, soaked and cooked velvet bean seed meal. The seeds were cracked, soaked in water and cooked before drying and milling. The processed meal contained 28.64% crude protein, 6.75% crude fibre, 6.00% ether extract and 2.20% ash. The cracked, soaked and cooked meal (CSCM) was included in a broiler chicken starter diet at 0,20,25 and 30% respectively. None of the three dietary levels of the seed meal significantly (P>0.05) affected the performance of the birds in terms of feed intake and growth rate. Birds fed 30% CSCM had the lowest growth rate and grew to 83.3% of the control. At 30% dietary level, the feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.05) decreased relative to the control. We conclude that cracking Mucuna seed prior to soaking in water and cooking, partially destroys its growth inhibiting factor(s), allowing successful use of up to 25% CSCM in broiler starter rations. Higher levels of CSCM reduced broiler performance although the results were much better than those of processed Mucuna bean in literature.