Effect Of Replacing Maize With Full-Fat Palm Kernel Meal In Broiler Diets:- Nnadiekwe Chinwe M

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of broilers fed diet in which Full- fat palm kernel Meal replaced Maize at different levels. Six treatment diets with full-fat palm kernel meal replacing maize at 0,20,40,60,80 and 100% respectively was formulated as broiler starter and finisher ratios and used in the experiment that lasted eight weeks. One hundred and eight broiler chicks were randomly allotted to the six treatment diets replicated thrice with each replicate having six chicks giving rise to eighteen chicks per a treatment. Completely randomized design was adopted for the experiment. Feed intake (99.215g), weight gain (66.429) final body weight (1.92kg) and feed conversion ratio (1.388) of birds fed diet 3 (40% replacement) were respectively significantly greater (P<0.05) than that of diet 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 (0, 20, 60, 80, and 100% replacement). Similarly, the percentage dressed weight of diet 3 (81.08%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than others followed by that of diet 1 (76.32%) while that of diet 6 (65.00%) was the least. Birds on diet 5 recorded the highest mortality (5.3%) while those fed diet 3 had the lowest (1.6%). The values for cost of diet, cost offeed intake, revenue and marginal piofit foi all the diets showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The haemoglobin (lO.Og/dl) and packed cell volume (30.0%) of diet 2 were respectively significantly greater (P<0.05) than the other diets. The cholesterol (fat) contents of diet 6 was however, significantly greater (P<0.05) than the othei diets. It is recommended that full-fat palm kernel meal can replace maize at, 40% and good results achieved.