Abstract:
The effect of feeding velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) meal on the lipid profile in broilers was
investigated. Two hundred, 14 days old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five
dietary treatments in a completely randomized design and feeding continued for four
weeks. Maize and soybean meal based control feed and four test diets prepared from the
control feed by incorporating velvet beans at 10, 15, 20 and 25% levels served as five
dietary treatments. Feed intake was unaffected by velvet beans. Serum total cholesterol
level was lowered by 9.5, 9.7, 15 and 16% in birds fed with 10, 15, 20 and 25% velvet bean
diets. Birds fed 25% VB diet showed an increase in HDL level by 8%. LDL level was
lowered by 43.1, 36.5, 25 and 23.4%, respectively in birds fed with 25, 20, 15 and 10%
velvet beans. Velvet beans reduced the serum triglyceride levels. Results suggest that
Velvet beans contain a strong cholesterol lowering effect in broilers.
