ABSTRACT

A 21-day feeding trial involving 150 three-week old broiler chicks to evaluate the response of starter broiler chicks fed diets containing varying levels of toasted bambara groundnut offal (TBGO) at 0, 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% designated diets 1,2,3,4 and 5 respectively on the performance and economics of production of broilers at starter phase was conducted. The birds were divided into five (5) treatment groups of thirty (30) birds, replicated three times at ten (10) birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Birds were fed ad-libitum and feed intake was monitored daily. They were weighed at the beginning of the trial and weekly thereafter. Data collected and analysed showed the following results. Toasted bambara groundnut offal contains 18.60% crude protein, 4.9% crude fibre, ether extract 5.35%, ash 5.05%, and nitrogen free extract 56.15%. The birds fed diet T₄had significantly higher (<P<0.05) final live weight (633 .66g) and total weight gain (419.66g) than birds fed diets T1 (572.og; 369.0g) T2 (556.33g; 350.33g), T3(616.33g408.00g) and T5 (581. Og; 365.33g). The final live weight and Total weight gain of the birds fed diet T4were similar (P>0.05) to birds fed diet T₃. The revenue and gross margins of the birds fed diet T₄ (N560.93; N302 .28g) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than birds fed diets T1 (N457.6; N248.4) T2 (N445.06; N240.83) and T5(N464.8; N263.3). The revenue and gross margin of the birds fed diet T4were comparable (P><0.05) to the values obtained for birds fed diet T₃(N493.06; N272.93). The cost of kg weight gain of the birds fed diet T₄ (N488.85) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than the values obtained for birds fed diets T1(N567.71), T2 (N585.31) T3 (N535.77) and T5 (N561.92). The birds however, did not differ significantly (P><0.05) in average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and cost of total feed consumed. It could be concluded that TBGO could be incorporated in starter broiler diets up to 22.5% dietary level without adverse effect on growth performance and economics of production characteristics of starter broiler chicks.