ABSTRACT

 An eight (8) week trial was conducted to evaluate the perfonnance of broilers fed palm kernel meal (PKM) based diet supplemented with enzyme phytase. A total of 144 day old broilers were completely randomized into four (4) treatment groups. Each group consisting of three (3) replicates with 12 birds per replicate were subjected to four different diets containing varying levels of (0%. 10%, 15%, and 20%) respectively to form the four treatments of the experiment at starter phase and 0%, 20%, 25% and 30% inclusion of palm kernel meal at the Finisher phase. The diets were supplemented with phytase enzyme at 0.05% level. The result showed a weight gain range of 1653.03-1918.30g with the highest value (1918.30g) gotten from birds fed diet 3 (25% inclusion of PKM) and lowest value (1653.03g) gotten from birds fed diet 4 (30% inclusion level). Final weight of l 805.8 1-2069.69g) was gotten in this study. With highest value (2069.69g) gotten from birds fed diet 3 (25%) and lowest value (1805.81g) gotten from group 4 (30g level). Feed conversion ratio of experimental birds improved with increase in level of replacement up to 25% ( diet 3) and then depreciated. The cut parts of birds fed treatment diets followed no definite pat er with increase in level of replacement. The result from growth parameters revealed that palm kernel meal can replace maize up to 25% with supplemental phytase without adverse effect on the perfonnancc of broiler birds. Since this will reduce cost, replacing maize with PKM up to 25% would greatly help to increase the profit for raising broilers in Nigeria and other tropics.