Determination of the mineral and vitamin compositions of jackfruit juice extract and its effect on broiler chickens performance

Abstract

This study evaluated the mineral and vitamin compositions of jackfruit juice extract and its effect on broiler chicks’ performance. Bunches of jackfruits were harvested, juice extracted and fortified with formic acid. Five (5) levels of the jackfruit juice extract supplements (200, 400g, 600g, 800g and 1000g) were constituted, by absorbing the formic acid fortified fruit juice extract in corn starch. The samples were labelled, air dried in a dark room, packed in polyethylene bags and stored in a refrigerator at 2⁰C, prior to the determination of the mineral and vitamin compositions. Broiler starter and finisher feeds were formulated and replicated in seven (7) parts. Conventional vitamin/mineral premix was added to the first part of the feed while the second to the seventh part of feeds were supplemented with each of the jackfruit juice extract /corn starch preparation. One hundred and forty seven day-old broiler chicks were weighed and distributed into the seven (7) groups and each group assigned to one of the seven diets in a complete randomized design and fed the starter diet (0-28 days)and the finisher diet (29-56 days). Data generated were analysed using the general linear models procedure of SPSS options, Version 18.00 (SPSS Inc., 2010). The results revealed that potassium 617.5mg) was the most abundant mineral in the jackfruit juice extract while manganese, zinc, iron, selenium and sodium were the most limiting minerals. Vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin were the prominent vitamins in jack fruit juice. There was no treatment effect (P>0.05) on the average daily feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and the carcass characteristic of the chickens at the starter and finisher phase. It was concluded that jackfruit juice extract supplement could be used to replace conventional vitamins/mineral premix in broiler diets. It was recommended that jackfruit juice extract supplement in broilers’ diet should not exceed 400g at starter phase and 200g/1kg corn starch mixtures.

Keywords: Minerals, vitamins, jackfruit extract, supplements, formic acid