ISSN : 2708-7743 (print), eISSN : 2708-5422

Incorporation of African Yam Bean tubers starch (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst ex A. Rich) Harms in the feeding of COBB 500 strain broiler

RESUME

Description of the subject. One of the major constraints in the urban and rural strain broiler livestock is feeding. Small breeders cannot afford the Midema ration to feed strain broiler because of its expensive costs, whereas it is the man source of supply. The African Yam Bean, a local and traditional plant can solve the strain broiler-feeding problem due to its higher tuber yield, its nutritional value it is available, accessible, well adapted, easy and cheap to produce.
Objective. To assess the effects of the tubers of African Yam Bean (AYB), in the Broiler feeding.
Methods. The COBB 500, race of chicken used during the research, were nourished by three types of rations: The control ration : Midema, the ration with 30% of soya bean and the ration with 15 % of AYB tubers flour and with 15% of soya bean.
Results. After four weeks of feeding of the chickens, the weight of chickens fed by AYB was as high as Midema ration, respectively (1977.50±13.00 g and 2035.00±123.00 g) whereas the indice of consumption was lower for the chicken fed with AYB (2306.97±120c) than the Midema ration (2477.26±111.00). The ration with 30% of soya bean, besides being expensive, indicated the lowest weight of the chickens (1834.00±121.00 g) with the highest consumption of food (2421.60±131.00). The price of production per kilogram of chicken fed with AYB tubers was the lowest ($ 1.51±0.02 et $ 1.57±0.01).
Conclusion. Feeding chickens with AYB is more economic and more beneficial, cheaper and accessible to the poor people. Farmers, who are growing the AYB plant, can feed their chickens freely using AYB tubers from their fields.

Dénis BUNGU, Joseph KATANGA, Honoré KIATOKO, Rose BOTSHILA, Eddy LONGO