Biochemical Responses of Cockerel to Graded Levels of Cowpea Testa as Replacement for Groundnut Cake

Cowpea Testa Meal (CTM) has been reported to be a cheaper alternative to Ground nut cake (GNC) in poultry nutrition but it contains some anti-nutritional factors. The effect of replacing GNC with CTM in the diets of cockerel starters on their serum metabolites and electrolytes was therefore investigated. One hundred and fifty (150) day old Harco strain of cockerels were randomly allotted into five dietary groups of thirty chicks each with three replicates in a completely randomised design. Five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated with CTM replacing GNC at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% graded levels. Dietary treatment started at fourth week of life. The experiment lasted seven weeks at the end of which blood samples were collected from the birds for serum biochemical analysis. Parameters investigated were Total protein (TP), Albumin, Globulin, Blood Urea Nitrogen(BUN), creatinine, bilirubin, Alanine Transaminase(ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). Others were serum electrolytes such as K +, Na +, Cl - and HCO 3-. TP, AST and all serum electrolytes investigated were not significantly ( p > 0.05) affected by the treatment. However, serum albumin, BUN, creatinine, bilirubin, ALT and ALP were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the treatment compared to those in control group. It can therefore be concluded from the results that CTM can be used to replace GNC in the diets of cockerel starters preferably at 25% and 50% substitution levels without any negative effect on the serum metabolites and electrolytes concentrations.