Abstract 230

Okorie,-AU; Anugwa,-FOI

Animal Science Dep., Univ. Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Qualitas-Plantarum:-Plant-Foods-for-Human-Nutrition. 1987, 37: 2, 97-102; 12 ref.

In a trial with 150 1-day-old crossbred progeny of barred Plymouth Rock X Nigerian local chickens the birds were divided into 5 groups of 30 birds each. Each group was fed on one of 5 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets A, B, C, D and E containing 0% (control), 10% non-roasted castor oil bean seeds (NRCOB), or 10, 15 or 20% roasted castor oil bean seeds (RCOB), respectively. Roasting was done at 140øC for 20 min to destroy the ricin component of the castor oil bean seed. There were significant differences in average feed intake, daily gain and feed conversion ratio between birds among the treatments. Best results were obtained with the inclusion of RCOB at 10%. The birds fed on the 20% roasted bean diets had the worst performance. The diet containing 10% NRCOB supported little or no growth, and also resulted in a high mortality (83%). There were no significant differences in mortality rates between the control diet and the other diets containing RCOB.