Kolanut shell for cockerels

Alternative feed ingredients have proved valuable in supporting the performance of livestock and poultry at low cost (Babatunde and Oluyemi, 2000). Kolanut shell can be substituted for 60% of the maize in layer mash (Olubamiwa et al., 2000), for 20% of the maize in broiler diets (Hamzat and Babatunde, 2001) and for 50% of the maize in rabbit diets (Babatunde et al., 2001). This study was designed to determine the optimal replacement level of kolanut shell meal (KSM) for maize in a diet for cockerels.

Eighty chicks were randomly allotted to receive diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% or 30% KSM for 12 weeks in a completely randomised experimental design. Water and feed (Table 1) were provided daily throughout the experiment. A digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the feeding trial.

Feed consumption increased as the dietary inclusion level of KSM increased. Birds fed the control diet had the lowest feed intake (6433.80 g per bird). This was probably due to caloric dilution of the feed by KSM, as they tend to eat to satisfy their energy requirements (Oluokun and Olalokun, 1999). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in final body weight or mortality. However, KSM depressed (P < 0.05) growth rate, feed conversion ratio (Table 2) and apparent digestibility of protein, crude fibre and ether extract (Table 3). It is not feasible for commercial producers to incorporate 30% KSM in the diet, as this resulted in high feed intake and low weight gain. However, 10% KSM can be incorporated into cockerel diets without any detrimental effects on performance.

Babatunde BB, Hamza RA, Adejinmi OO (2001) Replacement value of Kolanut husk meal in rabbit diets. Tropical Journal of Animal Science 4, 127-133.

Babatunde BB, Oluyemi JA (2000) Comparative digestibility of three commonly used fibrous ingredients in maize-soyabean meal-fish diet by broiler chicks. Tropical Journal of Animal Science 3, 33-43.

Hamzat RA, Babatunde BB (2001) Performance characteristics of broiler finishers fed kola-pod husk-based diets. Moor Journal of Agriculture Research 12, 153-158.

Olubamiwa O, Iyayi EA, Ayodele EA (2000) Kola pod husk as a partial substitute for maize in layers mash. Tropical Journal of Animal Science 3(1), 63-68.

Oluokun JA, Olalokun EA (1999) The effect of graded levels of brewers´spent grains and kolanut pod meal on the performance characteristics and carcass quality of rabbits. Nigerian Journal of Animal production 26, 71-77.