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Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2008) 8 : 185-192
185
*Reprint request: Dr. Y. Ramana Reddy, Tel: +91-40–24017211; Fax: +91-40-24015143;
E-mail: ramanayr19@yahoo.co.in
1
Department of Poultry Science
Effect of Replacing Maize with Pigment Extracted
Annatto
(Bixa Orallena)
Seed Meal on the
Performance of Broilers
P. Senthilkumar, Y. Ramana Reddy*, S. Ramesh, S. Gobinath
and V. Ravinder Reddy
1
Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science
Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Hyderabad-500 030, India
(Received June 07, 2007)
ABSTRACT
Senthilkumar, P., Ramana Reddy, Y., Ramesh, S., Gobinath, S. and Ravinder Reddy, V. 2008. Effect
of replacing maize with pigment extracted annatto (Bixa Orallena) seed meal on the performance of
broilers. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 8: 185-192.
The effect of quantitatively replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent of dietary maize with pigment
extracted annatto (Bixa orellana) seed meal (ASM) was investigated for broiler. Each one of the 5 diets
was offered as mash ad libitum to 4 replicates (8 per replicate) of 32 chicks each, during 0-42 days of
age. Replacement of maize with ASM up to 25 per cent level did not significantly (P>0.05) affect the
body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, dressing percentage and visceral organs weight while
pigmentation of shank and skin colour was significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to control. There was
no mortality in any of the dietary treatment throughout the experiment. Replacing the maize with ASM
more than 25% in the diet decreased the growth performance, dressing percentage and increased the
visceral organ and intestine weights and intestine length. Results indicated that ASM can replace 25 per
cent level of maize without affecting the performance and return over feed cost in broiler starter and
finisher rations.
Keywords: Annatto seed meal, Bixa orellana, Replacement, Maize, Broiler, Performance.
INTRODUCTION
The urgency of the world food problem has presented a challenge to nutritionists
to investigate the possibility of utilizing some lesser known tree crop seeds as source of
energy and protein to replace maize in a poultry rations because of the gap between
demand and supply. One of the tree crop seeds available for replacing maize in the diets
of poultry is pigment extracted annatto seed (Bixa orellana).
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This plant belongs to the family Bixaceae, native of tropical America, but is now
distributed in most of the tropical countries in both wild and cultivated forms (Anon.
1988). Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, Jamaica, Mexico,
Peru and Sri Lanka are the main growers of this plant (Anand, 1983). The yield of
annatto seed is approximately 270 kg per tree. There are very limited studies available
on utilization of these pigment extracted annatto seed as a concentrate feed ingredient
in the rations of livestock.
Crude protein (CP) content of annatto seed meal varied from 13 to 17 per cent
(Bressani et al., 1983). Annatto seed meal contained adequate levels of tryptophan and
lysine but low in methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenyl alanine and threonine (Bressani
et al., 1983). The protein quality of annatto seed flour was about 65 per cent compared
to casein, as reference protein. The digestibility of protein was 57% as compared to 94%
for casein (Bressani et al., 1983). Utiyama (2001) reported that the annatto seed meal
can be used up to 10 per cent in growing pig diets without affecting the performance
indices such as daily feed intake, daily body weight gain and the feed conversion.
In our continued effort at revealing the potentials of unconventional feeds which
could replace popular energy source i.e. maize, we report in this work, utilization of
pigment extracted annatto seed by replacing maize at graded levels in broiler starter and
finisher rations with respect to broiler performance and returns.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The annatto seed meal (ASM) used in this experiment was procured after pigment
extraction from the Paramoneel Agro-industries, Hyderabad and analysed for proximate
constituents (AOAC, 1997), minerals (AAS, Perkin Elmer Model – 2380), starch and
soluble sugar (Herrera et al., 2006) and metabolizable energy (Rose, 1997).
Standard maize–soybean meal based broiler starter and finisher diet (D
1
) was
formulated as per BIS (1992). Maize was replaced with ASM quantitatively at the level
of 25 (D
2
), 50 (D
3
), 75 (D
4
) and 100 (D
5
) per cent, respectively (Table 1) from the
control diet. Each of the five experimental diets were offered ad libitum as mash to 4
replicates of commercial chicks (Vencob) broilers day old, with each replicate comprising
of eight chicks of mixed sex, in a completely randomized design. The chicks were
housed in electrically heated battery cages fitted with separate feeders, waterers and
dropping trays and located in well ventilated room. During the experiment period birds
were immunized against new castle disease and infectious bursal disease.
The body weight of individual bird, feed intake and feed efficiency of replicates
were recorded weekly while the mortality of the experimental birds was recorded
throughout the experiment. At the end of 42 days growth trial, two birds from each
replicate i.e. eight birds per treatment were randomly selected and dressed to evaluate
the effect on carcass parameters. The weight of visceral organs and the length of small
intestine and large intestine were measured. The colour of skin and shank were recorded
Senthilkumar et al.
186
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by using Roche Fan colour index meter. The relative economy of raising broiler by
incorporation of ASM in the diets was calculated based on the cost of chicks and feed
at the prevailing market price.
The data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance (Snedecor and Cochran,
1980) and the treatment means were compared by Duncan’s multiple range test (Duncan,
1955) at 5% probability level.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Pigment extracted ASM contained 14.35% CP, 1.95% EE, 25.6% CF, 5.25%
TA, 52.87% NFE, 0.14% Ca and 0.70% P on DM basis. The starch and soluble sugar
content of ASM were 67.5 and 5.41 per cent, respectively. The calculated ME content
was 2745 kcal/kg. Chemical composition of ASM reported in this study was in agreement
with other reports (Senthil Kumar et al., 2007; Jayawikrama, 2006; Wurts and Torreblanca,
1983). However, a vide variation in chemical composition of annatto seed has been
reported (Bressani et al., 1983; Glew et al., 1997).
The growth performance, feeding efficiency, carcass traits and relative visceral
organ weight (%) of broiler chickens fed diets with varying level of ASM in place of
maize are presented in Table 2. Chicks fed diet with ASM replacing maize up to the
level of 25 per cent did not significantly (P>0.05) affect the growth performance and
carcass traits compared to control. Replacing maize beyond 25 per cent level with ASM
in the diet significantly (P<0.05) decreased the body weight gain, feed efficiency and
percent dressing yield. Feed intake was decreased in broiler chicks fed diets where ASM
replaced maize at 75 and 100 per cent level compared to those diets where ASM replaced
0, 25 and 50 per cent maize. The efficiency of feed conversion (kg feed/kg live weight)
significantly (P<0.05) declined as ASM replacing maize more than 25% in the diet. A
declining feed conversion efficiency indicates a reduced ability of birds to utilize the
ASM for growth. This reduced efficiency, in turn, might be due to the reduced calorie:
protein ratio and increased fibre in ASM diets. Dietary crude fibre increased markedly
with the addition of ASM (Table 1).
The changes in physical characteristics of such high-fibre diet might account for
the observed changes and need further study. For example, high fibre diets are known
to increase the rate of feed passage through gastrointestinal tract (Connell, 1981) and
thus may result in a lowering of the actual ME values of the diets. Also high dietary
fibre can provoke increased sloughing of intestinal epithelial cells, causing an increase
in secretion of mucosa in the intestine, which leads to losses of endogenous amino acids
(Parsons et al., 1983). In our study diet with 100% ASM contained 18.40% crude fibre
(Table 2), which may have caused the significant poor growth performance and carcass
traits. In earlier studies, Abdelsamie et al. (1983) and Fahey et al. (1990), reported
reduced growth rate in broilers on high fibre diet. High dietary fiber reduced the DE
and ME value of the diets in chicks and adult birds (Hegde et al., 1982). Further, crude
fiber showed a negative influence on the metabolizabiltiy of energy in poultry (Janssen
Evaluation of pigment extracted annatto seed meal in broilers
187
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Table 1. Composition (%, DM basis) of experimental broiler starter (0-4 wks) and finisher (5-6 wks)
diets
Ingredient
Diet
D
1
D
2
D
3
D
4
D
5
Starter (0-4 wks)
Maize 54.0 40.5 27.0 13.5 —
Annatto seed meal — 13.5 27.0 40.5 54.0
Constants
†
46.0 46.0 46.0 46.0 46.0
Finisher (5-6 wks)
Maize 58.0 43.5 29.0 14.5 —
Annatto seed meal — 14.5 29.0 43.5 58.0
Constants
‡
42.0 42.0 42.0 42.0 42.0
Nutrient composition of starter diet (calculated)
ME (kcal/kg) 2852 2782 2712 2692 2562
Crude protein (%) 20.29 21.04 21.79 22.58 23.28
C:P ratio 140.56 132.22 124.46 119.22 110.05
Crude fiber (%) 5.20 8.17 11.20 14.20 17.20
Lysine (%) 1.15 1.17 1.19 1.21 1.23
Methionine (%) 0.50 0.51 0.52 0.53 0.53
Methionine+Cystine (%) 0.84 0.86 0.88 0.90 0.90
Calcium (%) 0.89 0.89 0.89 0.89 0.89
Available phosphorus (%) 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.43
Feed cost (Rs/kg) 8.38 7.85 7.31 6.78 6.24
Nutrient composition of finisher diet (calculated)
ME (kcal/kg) 2923 2853 2773 2693 2613
Crude protein (%) 18.54 19.34 20.14 20.73 21.74
C:P ratio 157.65 147.51 137.68 129.96 120.18
Crude fibre (%) 5.10 8.30 11.50 14.70 18.00
Lysine (%) 0.95 0.97 0.99 1.01 1.04
Methionine (%) 0.5 0.46 0.47 0.48 0.48
Methionine+Cystine (%) 0.80 0.79 0.81 0.83 0.84
Calcium (%) 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.87
Available phosphorus (%) 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.42
Feed cost (Rs./kg) 8.21 7.64 7.07 6.50 5.92
†
Soybean meal 31%, Sunflower meal 10.18%, Sunflower oil 1.0%, Dicalcium phosphate 1.5%, Oyster shell grit
1.2%, Salt 0.3%, Trace minerals 0.1%, Vitamin premix 0.1%, Lysine 0.08%, Methionine 0.15%, Coccidiostat
premix 0.03%.
‡
Soybean meal 26%, Sunflower meal 10.15%, Starch 0.5, Sunflower oil 2.0%, Dicalcium phosphate 1.5%,
Oyster shell grit 1.2%, Salt 0.3%, Trace minerals 0.1%, Vitamin premix 0.1%, Methionine 0.12%, Coccidiostat
premix 0.03%.
Trace minerals provided (mg/kg diet): Manganese 120 mg; Zinc 80 mg; copper 10 mg; iodine 0.5 mg and
selenium 0.5 mg. Vitamin premix provided per kg diet: Vitamin A 15000 IU; Vitamin D
3
3000 IU; Vitamin
E 30 mg; Vitamin pyridoxine 4 mg; riboflavin 10 mg and thiamin 2 mg. Coccidiostat premix provided per kg
diet: Maduramicin 5 m.
Senthilkumar et al.
188
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and Carre, 1989). It clearly denotes the influence of fiber on ME content and performance
of birds. Newcombe and Summers (1985) reported that broilers were unable to compensate
for dietary dilution with cellulose by increasing food intake sufficiently to maintain
nutrient intake and body weight gain. However, in a study on growing pigs, the daily
feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were not influenced by
annatto seed byproduct inclusion in ration with same level of energy and protein up to
10% level (Utiyama et al., 2001).
The relative weight of visceral organs (liver, gizzard and heart) and caeca length
and weight were not influenced by ASM (Table 2) when it replaced maize in the diet
up to 25% level. However, the visceral organs weights and caeca length were increased
in birds fed diets where ASM replaced more than 25% maize in the diet. The length and
weight of small intestine were increased in ASM fed birds compared to control birds
irrespective of level of replacement of maize in the diet. The higher relative weight of
visceral organs and length and weight of intestine might be due to hypertrophy and /or
thickening of these organs because of high fibre content in the diet (Rama Rao et al.,
Table 2. Effect of replacing maize with pigment extracted annatto seed meal on growth, carcass
characteristics and visceral organs weight broilers (0-6weeks)
Parameter
Diet
SEM
D
1
D
2
D
3
D
4
D
5
Weight gain (g) 1632.0
c
1593.5
c
1338.3
b
1107.3
a
1111.0
a
56.77
Feed intake (g) 3035.8
a
3031.7
a
3034.2
a
2952.5
b
2913.9
c
11.80
FCR 1.86
a
1.90
a
2.29
b
2.69
c
2.67
c
0.09
Returns over feed cost (Rs/kg) 32.52 32.30 24.47 18.03 19.50 1.63
Carcass characteristics
Dressing percentage 67.22
d
66.75
d
63.88
c
60.71
b
53.35
a
1.17
Small intestine length (mm) 171.5
a
188.6
c
189.0
c
176.5
b
176.8
b
1.70
Small intestine weight (g) 47.75
a
51.50
b
53.75
c
56.00
d
57.50
d
0.82
Caeca length (mm) 17.00
a
17.25
a
21.75
b
24.50
c
28.25
d
1.03
Caeca weight (g) 10.00
a
10.75
a
13.00
b
13.75
bc
14.50
c
0.44
Shank colour score 3.38
c
3.00
b
3.00
b
2.00
a
2.00
a
2.39
Skin colour score 3.50
b
3.00
b
3.00
b
2.00
a
2.00
a
2.36
Visceral organs weight (% BW)
Liver 2.41
a
2.50
a
2.98
b
3.59
c
3.64
c
0.13
Gizzard 2.25
a
2.23
a
2.67
ab
3.05
b
2.97
b
0.11
Heart 0.43
a
0.44
a
0.53
ab
0.63
b
0.69
b
0.03
Spleen 0.13 0.12 0.14 0.17 0.16 0.01
a,b,c,d
Means with different superscript in a row differ significantly (P<0.05).
Evaluation of pigment extracted annatto seed meal in broilers
189
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2002). The adoptive changes in the structure and function of the gut associated with
various dietary ingredients were also reported by earlier workers (Dibner et al., 1996;
Nyachoti et al., 1996). High fibre diets are usually low in density and may be another
contributing factor for changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Kondra et al. (1974) reported
that chicken was capable of enlarging the length of digestive tract to obtain required
nutrients from low density diets. The increased length of intestine and caeca also reported
in broilers (Rajasekar et al., 1993; Ravinder Reddy, 1993) due to higher feed intake
from low density diets.
The inclusion of ASM significantly (P<0.05) reduced the yellow pigmentation of
the skin and shank. Chicken fed ASM added diet had poor pigmentation of skin and
shank compared to control group. The effect was increasing with increased level of ASM
replacing maize in the diet (Table 2).
The feed production cost (Rs/kg) decreased as the level of ASM increased (Table
1) in the diet, largely because of the corresponding decrease in the inclusion of maize.
At the time of experiment maize cost Rs 6.50/kg, in comparison to Rs 2.50/kg for ASM.
However, profits decreased with an increase of ASM in the diet, largely because poor
weight gain and feed conversion efficiency in birds fed diets in which ASM replaced
maize at more than 25% level compared to those fed 0 and 25% maize replaced diets
(Table 2). This indicates that broiler production was economical with the inclusion of
ASM in place of maize up to 25% in the diet.
The results of the present study revealed that pigment extracted annatto seed meal
is a potential alternate unconventional basal feed with high energy and protein content
and can be included up to 13-14 per cent in the diet replacing maize up to 25% in the
ration without affecting the performance of the broilers. Further studies are needed to
improve the utilization of ASM with high fibre content through feed processing and
enzyme, amino acid supplementation.
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