Growth, Nutrient Utilization and Carcass Characteristics in Broiler Chickens Fed Raw and Alkali Processed Solvent Extracted Karanj (Pongamia glabra) Cake as Partial Protein Supplement

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary incorporation of raw and alkali [1.5% NaOH and 3% Ca (OH)2, w/w] treated solvent extracted karanj (Pongamia glabra) cake (SKC) on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens during 0 to 6 weeks of age. A basal reference diet was formulated containing soybean meal (SBM) as the major protein source. Another six isonitrogenous and isocaloric test diets were formulated incorporating SKC, 1.5% NaOH treated SKC (NaOH-SKC) and 3% Ca (OH)2 treated SKC (Ca (OH)2-SKC) at 6.43 or 5.5% during starter phase and 12.86 or 11.0% during finisher phase replacing SBM nitrogen of reference diet at 12.5 and 25%, respectively. Each diet was offered ad. libitum to 4 replicates of 10 chicks each. The body weight gain and feed efficiency of broilers fed 6.43% NaOH-SKC incorporated diet was comparable with reference diet during 0 to 28d. However, weight gain and feed efficiency reduced in all karanj cakes incorporated diet during 29 to 42d. The overall weight gain during 0 to 42d was significantly higher in the reference diet. Significantly higher nutrient intake was observed in the reference group except 6.43% NaOH-SKC diet during both the balance trials and 6.43% Ca (OH)2-SKC during 2nd trial. The percent retention of DM, N, Ca, P and GE did not differ significantly. Higher liver weight was observed due to dietary incorporation of SKC and NaOH-SKC at 25%, and Ca (OH)2-SKC. The gizzard weight was significantly higher in SKC incorporated diet, at both the levels of replacement compared to reference diet. The breast yield lowered significantly when soybean meal nitrogen was replaced with processed or unprocessed karanj cake at 25% level. The findings suggested that 1.5% NaOH (w/w) treated SKC could be incorporated upto 6.43% level, replacing 12.5% of soybean nitrogen of reference diet in broiler chicken upto 4 weeks of age.