Nutrient digestibility and growth performance of cockerels fed processed sickle pod (Senna obtusifolia) seed meal based-diets

A Feeding trial was conducted for sixteen weeks to evaluate nutrient utilization and growth performanceofcockerelsfedprocessedSennaobtusifoliamealbased-diets.Sixexperimental diets werecompounded tocontain 0%and20%eachoftheraw,boiled, soaked, sproutedand fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. Data were collected on nutrient digestibility, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Poor nutrient digestibility for crude protein (45.18%), nitrogen free extract (42.39%) and ether extract (49.22%) were recorded in the group of cockerels fed raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. However, better nutrient digestibility for crude protein (76.23%), nitrogen free extract (67.62%) and ether extract (68.65%) digestibility was observed in the group of cockerel fed 0% Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. Among the cockerels fed the processed Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diets, those fed the fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet showed better crude protein (75.08%), ether extract (68.65%) nitrogen free exract (67.62%) and crude fibre (32.78%) digestibility. The result of productive performance revealed a significantly (P