Effects of Utilization of Crushed, Boiled and Fermented Roselle Seeds (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on the Performance of Broiler Chickens

Aim of Study: The study examines the effects of utilization of crushed (CRRS), boiled (HTRS) and fermented (FRS) Roselle seeds (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on the performance of broiler chickens

Study Design: A total of 135 Anak day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three (3) experimental groups of three (3) replicates using completely randomized design, data collected were subjected to ANOVA using SPSS and Likert scaling technique.

Place and Duration of Study: Livestock Complex, College of Agriculture, Lafia, Nasarawa state, Nigeria: February 2012 to April 2012.

Methodology: The effects of inclusion of differently processed Roselle seeds on performance traits of experimental birds were evaluated through feeding trials (1- 28 d) and (29- 50 d) at starter and finisher phases. Dietary treatments were as follows: D1, D2 and D3 representing Crushing of Raw Rosselle Seeds (CRRS); Hydrothermally Processed Rosselle Seeds (HTRS) and Fermented Rosselle Seeds (FRS) base diets.

Results: No significant (P=0.05) difference in the following parameters: initial weight, feed intake, FCR and survival percentage in the starter phase while the finisher phase significantly (P=0.05) differ only the performance index. Overall scoring of performance parameters showed those birds in D3 group were better than D2 and D1 in that order

Conclusion: Roselle seeds inclusion in broiler diets provides effective mechanism for the improvement in performance traits of broilers and fermentation of rosselle (Hibiscus sabdarif) is best processing method.