ABSTRACT

A total of 120 Anak broiler birds were used to establish to what extent fermented palm kernel meal can be used to replace maize in broiler starter diets and to study the effect of such replacements on rate of gain, cost of production, feed intake and feed efficiency. Proximate analyses of the diets and fermented palm kernel meal samples showed that fermented Palm Kernel Meal is higher than maize in crude protein and fibre but maize is higher in metabolizable energy. The inclusion level of fermented palm kernel meal was at the rate of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40%.The starter birds were able to utilize up to 30% of fermented palm kernel meal without any ill effects on performance. Above this level, rate of gain (16.98, 17.753, 17.403, 17.09%, 12.66" + 0.09,) and feed conversion ratio (2.623, 2.742, 2.942, 2.70, 3.86» + 0.03) significantly (P<0.05) declined and cost of feed/kg gain (225.53, 221.12, 221.33, 188.6», 250.8" + 0.67) and feed intake (42.65, 46.21%, 51.253, 55.99%, 48.83 + 0.20) significantly (P<0.05) increased. From the results fermented palm kernel meal at 30% level can substitute maize in broiler Starter diets without any loss in performance of birds. The level of substitution allows for much savings for the farmer.