PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED GRADED LEVELS OF TREATED (SOAKED) BAOBAB (adonsoniadigitata) SEED MEAL

Three hundred day old broiler chicks of the Anak breed were used to evaluate the potential of treated baobab ( Adansoniadigitata ) seed meal (TBSM) on the performance of broiler chickens using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments replicated three times. There were twenty chicks per replicate. The inclusion levels of treated seed meal in the diets were 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25% for treatments 1 (Control), 2, 3, 4 and 5   respectively. The experiment lasted for four (4) weeks each for the starter and finisher phases. In theStarter Phase , asignificantly (P<0.05) higher daily feed intake (50.84g) was recorded in birdsfed 25% TBSM while birds fed 0% TBSM consumed the least (47.20g). Birds fed diet 10% and 15% TBSM have significantly (P<0.05) higher live weights of 637.03g and 638.38g and daily weight gains of 20.48g and 20.53g. Feed conversion ratio follows similar trend as weight gain.  Significantly (P<0.05) higher feed cost per kilogram (₦92.16) and feed cost consumed (₦121.80) with zero cost reduction was recorded in birds fed 0% TBSM. Mortality ranged from1.02 – 3.06%. Finisher Phase follows similar trends as in the starter phase.. The mortality ranged from 1.48 -3.32%. Higher mortality was recorded in bird fed 0% TBSM and postmoten examination does not revealed any diseases symptoms therefore death was associated with normally environmental changes that occurs at time of the study.. Significantly (P<0.05) higher revenue ₦1,584.53 and ₦1,583.62 and gross margin of ₦871.01 and ₦899.33 were recorded in bird fed 10% and 15% TBSM and lower revenue ₦1,411.24 and ₦1,406.52  was recorded in birds fed 20% and 25% TBSM but significantly (P<0.05) higher in gross margin and rate of return on investment when compared to birds fed 0% TBSM. The PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC ranged from 22.50-26.83%,7.25-8.90g/dl, 3.07-4.50 (x10 6 mm 3 ) and 2.53-2.83 (x10 3 / mm 3 ) while MCV, MCH and MCHC ranged from 86.67-90.13(fl), 59.02-60.26 (pg) and 33.06-33. 22% respectively.  Significantly (P<0.05) higher values for most of this parameters were recorded in birds fed TBSM compare to control (0% TBSM). It can be concluded that feeding TBSM up to 25% to broiler chickens increased the performance of broiler chickens at both the starter and finisher phase respectively.