Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) meal as a substitute for soybean cake and its effect on the productive performance of broilers

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) meal as a partial substitute for soybean cake on the productive performance of broiler chickens in the finishing phase. The study included 336 21-day-old Cobb chickens in four treatments with three replications: To(0)%, T-1=5%, T-2=10%, and T-3=15% soybean cake replacement with velvet bean. The feed consumption of T-2 and T-3 chicks was significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05), but similar to T-1. Feed conversion was similar between the three velvet bean treatments, but T-2 presented a better conversion than T-0 (p<0.05). Carcass percent and body weight gain were similar among treatments. The highest economic returns were obtained in T2 (S/. 1.75 per chicken) and T-0 (S/. 1.73), closely followed by the other treatments. It is concluded that 10% velvet bean meal can be used in the feed ration without affecting the productive performance.