CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of study

Broiler production is one of the most popular livestock enterprises

adopted by small and medium scale farmers in both rural and urban areas

as it offers the highest turnover and quicker returns on investment

(Afolayan et al., 2014). Broiler production is a good source of animal

protein and contributes immensely in boosting the consumption level of

animal protein because of its short generation interval and high growth

rate (Essen et al., 2005). The benefit of broiler production is grossly

affected by the high cost of feed and an established fact that feed

represents the major cost of poultry production. This high cost of feed has

been identified to be one of the major constraints in commercial broiler

production (Vivian et al., 2015).

Global consumption of poultry products, especially poultry meat has

consistently increased over the years and the trend is expected to

continue. Much of the increase in global demand for poultry industry is

having a profound effect on the demand for feed and raw materials.

However, it is also becoming clear that the requirement for the four

traditional (conventional) feed ingredients cannot be met (Kellems et al.,

2010).

The gap between local supply and demand for these traditional

ingredients is expected to widen over the coming decades, providing a

compelling reason for exploring the usefulness of locally available

alternative feed stuffs in feed formulations (Ravindran & Blair 1993). In

Nigeria, commercial poultry production is one of the highest sources of

animal protein, but the challenge faced by the industry mainly is the

availability, on sustainable basis, of feed and feed ingredients. Thus,

making unconventional feedstuff an option to be given a serious and

concerted consideration, since they are most times relatively cheaper and

readily available. In evaluating this unconventional feedstuff, their effects

on health should also be considered as well.

Alternative feed ingredients can be whole products, by products of

processing industries, They can as well be part of a crop that is not

mainly the reason of planting the crop, like the leaves of tuberous crops.

Unconventional feed ingredients possess the advantage of low cost, ease

of accessibility and low food-feed competition (Sonaiya, 1995). There is

a need to utilize unconventional growth enhancers in broiler nutrition that

could improve nutrient digestibility, control pathogenic microorganisms,

facilitate favourable intestinal microbial balance and enhance absorption

of calorigenic nutrients across the gut wall by increasing its absorption

capacity ( Al-Khalifa et al., 2018).

One of such unconventional feedstuff is avocado seed. Avocado seed is a

waste obtained from Avocado fruit (Persea americana) and has potential

health benefits which include improving digestion, reducing risk of

depression, cures diarrhoea or dysentery. Studies have shown that

avocados are rich in macro nutrients like carbohydrate, vitamin and

proteins (Whitney and Rolfes, 2005).

It is also used as a feed addictive as a result of its active constituent

"polyphenols" with antioxidant and antimicrobial power which in some

cases are better than synthetic antioxidants due to their toxicity when in
excess (Dabas et al., 2013). These feed ingredients like avocado seeds

gotten from plant materials that are of little or no value to man will be an

advantage if used in broiler production. This research therefore was

carried out to determine the Performance and biochemical parameters of

broiler chickens fed avocado (Persea americana) seed meal based diet.

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