EFFECTS OF GRADED LEVELS OF RIPE AND UNRIPE PLANTAIN PEEL MEALS ON PERFORMANCE, ORGAN WEIGHTS AND BLOOD PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS

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1 EFFECTS OF GRADED LEVELS OF RIPE AND UNRIPE PLANTAIN PEEL MEALS ON PERFORMANCE, ORGAN WEIGHTS AND BLOOD PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS ABSTRACT Oyedeji 1 *, J. O., Olomu 2, J. M., Godspower 2, S. A. and Ojero 2, O. V. 1 Department of Animal Science and Animal Technology, FAAT, Benson Idahosa University, Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria. 2 Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: joyedeji@biu.edu.ng ; Phone number: One hundred and fifty (150) Zarma strains broiler chicks were used in the study designed to investigate the effects of graded levels of ripe and unripe plantain peel meals on the performance, organs weight and some blood parameters of broiler chickens. Five dietary treatments were formulated and randomly applied during both starter and finisher phases. Diet 1 was 100% maize based, while in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5, maize was replaced by 50% Ripe Plantain Peel Meal (), 100%, 50% Unripe Plantain Peel Meal () and 100% respectively. Results showed that feed intake of broiler chickens were similar across treatments (p > 0.05). The highest weight gain per bird (1432g) and the best feed/gain ratio (2.58) were recorded among broilers fed 50%, while the lowest weight gain per bird (876g) and the worst feed/gain ratio (4.25) were recorded when 100% of maize was replaced by (p<0.05). Dietary at 100% replacement for maize significantly increased the liver (3.70%), the heart (0.68%) and the gizzard (7.74%) weights (p < 0.05). Replacing 50% of maize by in broiler finisher diet offered the best performance in terms of live body weight gain and feed/gain ratio. INTRODUCTION Poultry production has not always been a lucrative enterprise in developing countries because of high cost of production largely attributable to high cost of feeding. Amaefule et al. (2005) reported that in poultry industry the major area of concern is feeding. Most of the major ingredients used in poultry feed formulations are also being used either directly for human consumption or for industry as raw materials. Thus, the costs of such feedstuff are constantly on the increase. Efforts at reducing cost of production through reduction in feed cost has often focused on the use of non conventional feedstuffs or through quantitative or qualitative feed restrictions (Oyedeji and Atteh, 2003). One of such unconventional feedstuffs is plantain peel. Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) production in Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise for more than twenty years. As at 2004, the country produced more than million tons harvested from 389,000 ha (FAO, 2006). Plantain plants are large perennial herbs growing from a symposia rhizome. Plantain peels are mostly regarded as wastes which constitute environmental pollution especially in urban areas where goats and sheep are not allowed to roam about. Plantain peel is reported to have some nutritional values. It has been reported that plantain peel contains about 12% crude protein, 16% crude fibre and 1,300 kcal kg -1 energy on dry matter basis (Aduku, 1993, Ajasin et al., 2004). Ighodaro (2012) gave the proximate composition of ripe plantain peels to be 7.04% moisture, 22.30% ash, 14.31% fibre, 6.22% crude fat, 42.95% carbohydrate and 7.18% crude protein, while the unripe plantain peels contained 6.89% crude protein, 48.18% carbohydrate, 3.67% crude fat, 16.20% crude fibre, 17.59% ash and 7.47% moisture. The nutritive value of ripe banana peels (14.0 MJ per kg DM) was found to be higher than for green peels (11.6 MJ kg -1 DM) (Tartrakoon et.al., 1999). Dried ripe plantain peels were fed to growing pigs up to 20% of the diet dry matter without depressing growth but higher inclusion rates caused poor growth (Rios et al., 1975). Ripe plantain peel meals replaced up to 31% of maize in growing pig diet without adverse effect on growth performance (Calles et al., 2000). In poultry feeding, maximum inclusion rates of 7.5% and 10% dried banana peels have been suggested for broiler diets (Tewe, 1983, Sabutan, 1996) reported that live weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were significantly higher in chickens fed up to 10% banana peel meal. Ironkwe and Oruwari (2012) reported that maize can conveniently be replaced with plantain peel meal in broiler finisher diet up to 50% inclusion. However, above 50% inclusion level of plantain peel, feed intake was reduced (Ironkwe and Oruwari, 2012). The present study is focused on determining which form of plantain peel, whether ripe or unripe peels will be more suitable for inclusion in broiler starter and finisher diets. It also sought to determine the percentage of maize such plantain peel meal can replace in broiler chickens diet. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of one hundred and fifty (150) Zarma day old broiler chicks obtained from a reputable hatchery were used for the experiment. The study was carried out at the poultry research unit of the Teaching and Research Farms of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The plantain peels used were obtained from household kitchen, women frying plantain chips and roasting plantains as well as from commercial eateries within Benin City and NJAFE VOL. 11 No. 4,

2 Warri town, both in Nigeria. The plantain peels were collected wet. They were sundried and milled before incorporation into broiler chick diets. The broiler chicks used were reared on deep litter. Fifteen experimental pens of equal dimensions were used. During the starter phase which lasted for four weeks, five dietary treatments were formulated (Table 1). Diet 1 in which maize was the main source of energy served as the control. However, in diets 2 and 3, milled ripe plantain peel meal () replaced 50% and 100% maize respectively, while in diets 4 and 5, milled unripe plantain peel meal () replaced 50% and 100% maize respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated three times making a total of 15 experimental units with each unit having 10 broiler chicks. The same levels of inclusion of plantain peels were maintained in the formulation of finisher diets (Table 2) used between 5-8 weeks of the experimental period. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the period of the experiment which lasted for a total of eight weeks. Daily feed intakes were recorded. After the initial measurement of birds weight at the beginning of the experiment, weekly live body weights of chicks were taken. At week eight of the study, 2.5ml of blood samples were collected from 2 broiler chickens from each replicate making six birds per treatment for hematological analysis. The blood samples were collected through the veins under the wings. For hematological study, the 2.5ml blood was collected into bottles containing Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA). The blood samples were analyzed for parameters such as packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell, red blood cell count following standard procedure described by Davice and Lewis (1991). Also, a separate 2.5ml blood samples were collected into bottles without anticoagulant for determination of serum metabolites (total serum protein, glucose) using the methods described by Baker and Silverton (1985). Table 1: Percentage composition of broiler starter diets (percentage replacement) Ingredients MAIZE Maize Soybean meal Palm kernel meal Bone meal Limestone Salt Premix* Methionine Lysine Plantain peel Total Calculated Analysis CP (%) ME Kcal kg Lysine (%) Meth + cyst (%) Total P (%) Calcium (%) * Provided g kg -1 of diet-vitamin A (12,000IU); Vitamin D 3 (2,500IU); Vitamin E (30,000IU) Vitamin K 3 (2,000mg); Vitamin B2-Riboflavin (3mg); Vitamin B3- Nicotinic acid (10mg); Vitamin B5(15meg)-Pantothenic acid 15,000mg); Manganese (80,000mg); Zinc (50mg); Copper(5mg); Iodine(1,000mg); Cobalt (Co) (0.2mg); Selenium (Se) 0.1mg); Folic acid (1,500mg); Biotin (50meg); Choline chloride (300,000mg) : Ripe plantain peel meal; : Unripe plantain peel meal On the last day of the experiment, three birds per replicate were selected on the basis of closeness to the replicate mean weight. They were deprived of feed overnight to clear the gastrointestinal tract of digesta thus enhancing good carcass evaluation. The selected birds were weighed prior to slaughtering to determine the live weight. The slaughtered birds were defeathered and eviscerated before weighing the carcass. The organs and the parts selected were separated and their weights determined. The absolute weights were expressed as a percentage of the live weight. Proximate analysis of feed, plantain peels and excreta samples were carried out using the method of AOAC (1990). Data collected and generated were subjected to statistical analysis using SAS (2005) package as it applies to a completely randomized design. The separation of means was done using Duncan s Multiple Range Test (Duncan, 1955). RESULTS The proximate nutritional contents of both the ripe plantain peel meal () and the unripe plantain peel meal () are presented in Table 3. The effects of graded levels of ripe and unripe plantain peel meals as replacement for maize on the performance broiler chickens at different stages of growth is as shown in Table 4. NJAFE VOL. 11 No. 4,

3 During the starter phase (0-4 weeks), both feed intake and feed to gain ratio were not significantly affected (P>0.05). However, body weight gain was generally significantly reduced by dietary inclusion of either ripe or unripe plantain peel meals (P<0.05). The highest body weight gain (421 g per bird) and the least body weight gain (286g/bird) were recorded for broilers on 100% maize based diet and 100% unripe plantain peel meals respectively. Feed intakes of broiler chickens were similar during the finisher period (5-8 weeks). However, body weight gains of broilers chickens varied significantly among birds (P<0.05). The highest feed intake (1113 g per bird) and the least body weight gain (590 g per bird) occurred among broilers fed on 50% ripe plantain peel meal and 100% unripe plantain peel meal respectively. The poorest feed to gain ratio (4.70) was recorded among broilers fed on 100% unripe plantain peel meal during the finisher period (p<0.05). For the combined period covering both the starter and finisher periods (0-8 weeks), feed intake remained statistically similar among the various dietary groups of broiler chickens (P>0.05). However, the body weight gains and feed/ gain ratios were significantly influenced by dietary plantain peel meals (P<0.05). The best body weight gain (1432 g per bird) was attained by broilers fed on 50% ripe plantain peel meal. This was followed by the broilers on 100% maize based diet (1337 g per bird) and broilers on 50% unripe plantain peel meal (1258 g per bird). The best feed to gain ratio (2.58) was recorded by broilers on 50% ripe plantain peel meal. Percentage mortality of birds was not significantly affected by dietary treatments (P>0.05). The results of some selected organ weights expressed as percentages of dressed body weight as influenced by dietary ripe and unripe plantain peel meals are shown in Table 5. Table 2: Percentage composition of finisher diets (percentage Replacement) Ingredients MAIZE Maize Soybean meal Palm kernel meal Bone meal Limestone Salt Premix* Methionine Lysine Plantain peel Total Calculated Analysis CP (%) ME Kcal kg Lysine (%) Meth + cyst (%) Total P (%) Calcium (%) *Provided g kg -1 of diet-vitamin A (12,000IU); Vitamin D 3 (2,500IU); Vitamin E (30,000IU) Vitamin K 3 (2,000mg); Vitamin B2-Riboflavin (3mg); Vitamin B3- Nicotinic acid (10mg); Vitamin B5(15meg)-Pantothenic acid 15,000mg); Manganese (80,000mg); Zinc (50mg); Copper(5mg); Iodine(1,000mg); Cobalt (Co) (0.2mg); Selenium (Se)(0.1mg); Folic acid (1,500mg); Biotin (50meg); Choline chloride (300,000mg) : Ripe plantain peel meal; U: Unripe plantain peels meal Table 3: Proximate composition of plantain peels Dry Matter % Crude Protein % Ether Extract % Crude Fibre % Ash % Nitrogen Free Extract % : Ripe plantain peel meal; : Unripe plantain peel meal Dressed body weights of broilers differed significantly (p< 0.05). Dietary plantain peel meals had significant effects of all the organs considered (P<0.05). Liver weight expressed as percentage of live weight of broiler was significantly increased; the highest (3.70%) was recorded for the broilers fed 100% unripe plantain peel meal. Similarly, the highest heart weight (0.68%) and gizzard weight (7.74%) were recorded for this same 100% unripe plantain peel based diet. The least spleen weight (0.12%) expressed as percentage of live weight of birds was recorded among broilers on 100% ripe plantain peel meal (p<0.05). Table 6 shows the effects of graded levels of NJAFE VOL. 11 No. 4,

4 ripe and unripe plantain peels meal on the haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens. The serum glucose, total protein, serum albumin and serum globulin values of broiler chickens wee not significantly affected by dietary treatments. The white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit components of the blood were significantly increased (P<0.05). The highest values of 91.3(10 3 mm- 3 ), 3.07(10 6 mm- 3 ), (gdl -1 ) and (g dl -1 ) for white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit respectively were recorded in broiler chickens fed 100% ripe plantain peel meal. Table 4: Effect of graded levels of ripe and unripe plantain peel meal on the performance of broiler chickens Feed intake (g per bird) Parameters Weight gain (g per bird) Feed/gain ratio Mortality (%) Starter (0-4 weeks) Control (100% maize meal) a 2.54 b % b 2.70 b % b 2.91 b % ab 2.67 b % a 6.70 SEM Finisher (5-8 weeks) Control (100% maize meal) ab 2.99 b % a 2.55 b % bc 3.39 b % ab 3.03 b % c 4.66 a 0.00 SEM Combined period (0-8 weeks) Control (100% maize meal) a 2.89 a % a 2.58 a % b 3.26 a % ab 2.93 a % c 4.25 b 6.70 SEM a,b,c Within columns, mean carrying different superscripts are significantly different (P < 0.05) : Ripe Plantain Peel Meal; : Unripe Plantain Peel Meal Table 5: Effects of graded levels of ripe and unripe plantain peel on some selected organs weight of broiler chickens Parameter Control 100% 50% 100% 50% 100% SEM Maize Meal Dressed weight (g per bird) 1411 a 1500 a 1201 b 1284 b 927 c Gizzard (%) 4.88 c 5.20 b 5.70 b 4.55 c 7.74 a 2.88 Liver (%) 2.62 b 2.52 b 2.92 b 2.73 b 3.70 a 0.85 Heart (%) 0.64 a 0.58 b 0.46 c 0.57 b 0.68 a 0.13 Spleen (%) 0.17 a 0.15 a 0.12 b 0.16 a 0.15 a 0.06 a,b,c Within rows, means carrying different superscripts are significantly different (P < 0.05) : Ripe Plantain Peel Meal; : Unripe Plantain Peel Meal DISCUSSION The nutrient compositions of both ripe and unripe plantain peels used in this study suggest that they are energy concentrates with NFE of 36.25% and 34.43% for ripe and unripe plantain peels respectively. The ripe plantain peel also contained 20.50% ether extract and unripe plantain peel 21.50% ether extract. Nitrogen free extracts (NFE), ether extract and fibre portions are energy components of feedstuffs. Ighodaro (2012) reported a value of 42.95% and 48.18% carbohydrate for ripe and unripe plantain peel meals respectively. Ajasin et al. (2004) reported that plantain peel contains 1300kcal/kg of energy. The implication of this and previous reports is that whether ripe or unripe, plantain peel can be classified as an energy concentrate. As observed in this study, feed intakes of broiler chickens were not significantly affected at both starter and finisher stages regardless of levels of inclusion of plantain peels or whether ripe or unripe. This observation is contrary to the report of Uwalaka et al. (2013) that 50% dietary unripe plantain peel meal resulted in a significant increase in feed intake among broiler chickens. Tannins in unprocessed plantain peels have been reported as an anti nutritional factor that may affect palatability of plantain peel meal (Makkar et al., 2009; Eleazu et al., 2010). Equally reported is that sun drying before milling can immensely help in reducing the anti nutritional toxic factor NJAFE VOL. 11 No. 4,

5 tannin (Makkhar et al., 2009). The plantain peels used in this study were sun dried before milling and incorporation into the formulated diets. This process presumably helped to reduce the levels of tannins thereby enhancing the palatability of the diets. This might be responsible for similarity in feed intake among broiler chickens subjected to the various dietary treatments. Table 6: Effects of graded levels of ripe and unripe plantain peel meal on the haematology and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens Parameter Control 100% 50% 100% 50% 100% SEM Maize Meal White Blood Cell (10 3 mm -3 ) 78.0 c 87.6 b 91.3 a 90.4 a 87.8 ab 2.56 Lymphocyte (%) Monocyte (%) 6.60 b 7.00 b 8.23 b a 9.07 ab 0.89 Red Blood Cell (10 6 mm -3 ) 2.14 c 2.60 b 3.07 a 2.60 b 2.63 b 0.09 Haemoglobin (g dl -1 ) b b 18.43a b b 1.97 Haemotocrit (g dl -1 ) b b 42.37a ab ab 1.16 Glucose (mg dl -1 ) Serum Total Protein (mg dl -1 ) Albumin (g dl -1 ) Globulin (g dl -1 ) a,b,c Within rows, means carrying different superscripts are significantly different (P < 0.05) : Ripe Plantain Peel Meal; : Unripe Plantain Peel Meal Despite the initial retardation in body weight gains observed for broiler chicks at the starter phase, the final body weight gains of broiler chickens subjected to 50% inclusion of both ripe and unripe plantain meals were comparable to the 100% maize based diets. The initial retardation in body weight at the starter phase might be due to the inability of the chicks to cope with the levels of plantain peel meal at this stage of growth. Lower levels of inclusion perhaps would have produced a different result. However, this study shows that the finishing broilers were able to cope and utilize these levels of inclusion for both ripe and unripe plantain peel meals. This is reflected in their final body weights that were comparable with the 100% maize based diets. In fact, the heaviest birds were harvested from 50% dietary inclusion ripe plantain peel meal. This report is in line with Ironkwe and Oruwari (2012) who reported that 50% of maize can be conveniently replaced with plantain peel in broiler finisher diets without detrimental effect on body weight. However, this report is at variance with that of Uwalaka et al. (2013) who reported that feeding finishing broilers on diets up to 50% unripe plantain peel meal significantly reduced broiler weight. The choice between ripe and unripe plantain peel meals is also of interest in this study. From all performance indices, ripe plantain peel meal seems to offer a better result than the unripe plantain peel meal at all levels of inclusion. Bulkiness and semi powdery nature of unripe plantain peel meal have been reported to be the major limiting factor for its proper utilization in broilers diets (Calles et al., 2000; Celleri and Mane, 2001). Tartrakossi et al. (1999) reported that the nutritional value of ripe banana peel (14.0 MJ/kg DM) was higher than for green peels (11.6MJ/kg DM). Fanimo et al. (2006) reported that ripeness may slightly improve the nutritive value of plantain peels. This study showed that inclusion of either ripe or unripe plantain peel meals as a total replacement for maize has no significant negative effects on broiler livability. Earlier researchers did not report any either (Ironkwe and Oruwari, 2012; Uwalaka et al., 2013). The significant increases in the weights of liver, heart and gizzard especially at 100% dietary inclusion of unripe plantain peel meal seems to suggest that these organs were overworked to keep the birds alive. Reason for this might be due to the fact that, some insignificant dosages of tannins were still present in the final feed which the liver actively detoxified. One of the roles liver plays in the body is that of detoxifying harmful chemicals that find their way into animals body. That the gizzard weight was also significantly increased might be an indication of high fibre in the unripe plantain peel meal. Ighodaro (2012) reported that ripe plantain peel contained 14.3%fibre, while the unripe plantain peel contained 16.20% fibre. The haematology result shows that the lowest level of red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin were recorded for broiler chickens fed unripe plantain peel meal. The implication of this to the heart must have been some form of overworking resulting in larger heart compared with chickens on other dietary treatments. Red blood cells serve as carrier of haemoglobin; it is also involved in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body (Isaac et al., 2013). A reduced red blood cell count implies a reduction in the level of oxygen that would be carried to the tissues as well as the level of carbon dioxide returned to the lung (Ugwuene 2011; Soetan et al., 2013). CONCLUSION Taken together, the results obtained in this study show that, broiler chicks at the starting phase are not able to cope with dietary inclusion of either ripe or unripe plantain meal up to 50% as replacement for maize in their diets. However, the results also show that at the finisher phase, broiler chickens can tolerate productively 50% of either ripe or unripe plantain peel meal as replacement for maize in their diets. Nevertheless, 50% dietary inclusion of NJAFE VOL. 11 No. 4,

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