Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Volume 2(6), pages 164-170, December 2017 https://doi.org/10.31248/JASVM2017.063 ISSN 2536-7099. Copyright © 2017 Article Number: E1FA27C32 http://www.integrityresjournals.org/journal/JASVM Full Length Research Evaluation of fermented locust bean meal (Parkia biglobosa) as replacement to soybean meal on production performance, blood profile and gut morphology of broiler chicken Foluke A. Aderemi, Olufemi. M. Alabi, Mathew. O. Ayoola * and Loveth O. Oyelami Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Management, Bowen University Iwo, Osun state Nigeria, P. M. B 284, Osun state, Nigeria. *Corresponding author. Email: ayoolamatt@gmail.com. Tel: +2348038038406. Copyright © 2017 Aderemi et al. This article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Received 2nd August, 2017; Accepted 12th September, 2017 ABSTRACT: The high cost of soybean meal, and competition as food between human and animal have necessitated search for alternative plant protein source in poultry diet. Eight weeks trial was carried out on the evaluation of fermented locust bean meal (FLBM) as replacement for soybean meal (SBM) in broiler production. Ninety days old broilers were allotted randomly to three treatment diets, replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. Diets I (control) did not contain FLBM, diets II and III had 50 and 100% FLBM inclusions respectively as replacement for soybean meal in both starter and finisher phases. At the end of finisher phase, 4 birds were randomly selected per replicate for analyses of blood samples and evaluation of internal organs and carcass characteristics. At starter phase, body weight was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by treatment diets among experimental groups. The feed intake was lower in diet III, and feed conversion ratio was better in diet I significantly (P<0.05). Mortality of birds on diet III was higher significantly (P<0.05). At the finisher level, broilers fed diet I had higher weight gain and better feed conversion ratio, which was significantly (P<0.05) similar to diet II. The packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin, red blood cell and platelets of birds fed diet II were significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared to those fed diets I and III and were within normal range for healthy birds. Blood serum showed that glucose, aspartate transaminase, cholesterol and creatinine of birds fed diet III were significantly (P<0.05) higher than others. Measurement of organs revealed that liver, lungs, intestine, gizzard and heart of those fed diets II and III were significantly (P<0.05) similar and smaller than the control with no traces of inflammation. Conclusively, FLBM could replace up to 50% SBM in broiler diet without adverse effect on the production performance. Key words: Broilers, fermented locust bean meal, haematology, production performance, soybean meal. INTRODUCTION The competitive demand for conventional plant protein origin (soybean meal and groundnut cake) has led to a high cost of livestock in Nigeria. Hence, the need for additional protein supplies to promote sustainable monogastric livestock for least cost formulation and production (Ari and Ayanwale, 2012). One of such legumes is Parkia biglobosa, which is commonly known as African locust bean. It is a tropical tree which is native to Africa and widely distributed in the savannah region. The tree is usually and carefully preserved by inhabitants of the areas where it grows because they are valuable source of reliable food. P. biglobosa has high protein and better amino acid profile that recommends its consumption as Daddawa in Hausa and Iru in Yoruba