Growth performance of broiler chicks fed Aspergillus niger- fermented Terminalia catappa seed meal-based diet

Forty-five, day-old broiler chicks with an initial average weight of 30.25±2.40 g were divided into three groups of fifteen animals each. The first group was placed on soybean-based (control) diet; the second group on raw (unfermented) T. catappa seed meal-based diet; and the third on A. niger-fermented T. catappa seed meal-based diet, for seven (7) weeks. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio, average weekly body weight gain and mortality were monitored. Though significantly lower (