Non-toxic Jatropha curcas L. residual paste as a protein supplement in poultry diets

Resumen

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the non-toxic residual meal from Mexican jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) as
part of a protein supplement in broiler chicken feed.
Design/methodology/approach: An experimental diet was designed by incorporating meal obtained from
the non-toxic residual jatropha paste, which was administered to a group of 20 one-day-old Cobb 550 chicks.
The chicks were weighed every three days, and their feed was adjusted weekly according to their development
over a 28-day period. Another group of chicks, with the same number of individuals, characteristics, and
follow-up, was fed a commercial diet for comparison purposes.
Results: The inclusion of non-toxic residual jatropha paste in the broiler chickens’ diet produced similar
performance to that obtained with the commercial diet.
Study limitations/implications: The scale of the experiment could affect the generalization of the results to
a larger poultry population.
Findings/conclusions: The non-toxic residual meal from Mexican jatropha could be a viable and sustainable
alternative for enriching poultry diets.