Author : Millamena, Andresito A.

Summary : Two feeding experiments and two metabolism trials were undertaken to evaluate the chemical and biological values of cowpea and determine its potential as subtitute for soybean oil meal in broiler diet. Matured cowpea seeds, either cooked or raw, had about the same values for proximate composition, amino acid spectrum, calcium and phosphorus, trace elements (Copper, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc), urease activity, and metabolizable energy. Cowpea had higher metabolizable energy than soybean oil meal, but the latter has higher crude protein, amino acids, and mineral content. Urease content is low in cowpea and that cooking was unnecessary for it to be used. The coefficients of apparent metabolizable energy and crude protein were generally improved when cowpea was combined with other feed ingredients or with the complete broiler diet. The general performance of broliers in terms of feed consumption, body weight, feed, and protein efficiencies fed with the cowpea substituted diet was about the same, if not better, than those fed with a diet without cowpea or all soybean oil meal protein diet (control). The values obtained for these parameters were much better as compared with the performance of the same strain of commercial broiler hybrids fed with commercial broiler starter mash. There was no significant differences observed among treatment means on these parameters at 5 percent level of probability. Similarly, no significant interactions were observed between processing methods (raw + cooked), or among subtitution levels of cowpea (0-49 or 15-49 days). There was no significant differences in the dressing percentage and weights of gizzard, liver, and pancreas of broilers fed with the cowpea diets. Under the conditions of the present study, cowpea either cooked or raw, can substitute for soybean oil meal up to 100 percent in broiler diet.