Performance Of Broiler Chicken Fed Diets Containing Varying Proportions Of Toasted Bambara Groundnut Offal And Palm Kernel Meal.:- Felix, Ruth C

ABSTRACT I x I' Performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing varying proportions of toasted Bambara groundnut offal (TBGO) and palm kernel meal (PKM) was investigated using one hundred and five (105) day old broiler chicks ofAgrited strain in a 56 day feeding trial. The birds were allocated to five dietary treatments with three replicates per treatment and seven birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. Data collected were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Diet Ti was the control and did not contain TBGO and PKM, while diets T2, T3, T4, and T5 contained 15% TBGO and 5% PKM, 20% TBGO and 10% PKM, 25% TBGO and 15% PKM and 30% TBGO and 20% PKM levels of inclusion respectively both at starter and finisher phases. Feed and water were given ad-libitum. The parameters evaluated include growth parameters, economics, carcass and organ characteristics. The results ofthe study showed that the growth performance parameters at the starter phase differed significantly (P<0.05). The starter birds fed diets T3 ,T4 and T5 had significantly higher (P<0.05) daily feed intake values of 72.49g, 73.39g and 60.34g respectively than the birds fed diet T2 (65.64g) and Ti (59.08g) . The starter broiler fed diet Ti , diet Tz and diet T3 had significantly (P<0.05) higher Average daily gains, (31.08g, 29.90g and 30.15g) than starter broilers fed diets T4 (23.76g) and T5 (20.74g) respectively. At the finisher phase, the final weight of broilers fed diet Ti were significantly (P<0.05) higher (2080.17g) than broilers fed diet T4 (1573.44g),-T5 (1664.83g) but similar (P>0.05) to birds fed diets T2 (1870.00g) and T3 (1911.73g). ADFI of finisher broilers fed diet T5 was significantly (P<0.05) higher (179.01g) than broilers fed diet Ti (158.72g). ADG and FCR were similar (P>0.05) among the treatment. On economics of production characteristics at the finisher phase, Cost of feed consumed of broilers fed diet T3 was significantly (P<0.05) higher (N329.40) than broilers fed diet Ti (N278.19). Cost per kilogram weight gain were similar (P>0.05) among the treatment means. Revenue of broilers fed diet Ti (1664.13g) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than broilers fed diet T4 (N1258.75). Finisher broilers fed diet Ti gave significantly (P<0.05) higher gross margin (N953.48) than broilers fed diet T4 (N547.43). The carcass and organ characteristics of broiler chickens fed varying levels of TBGO and PKM showed no significant differences (P>0.05) for all parameters measured. The breasts of bird fed diet Ti was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the birds fed diet T5. However, the breasts ofthe birds fed diets T2, T3 and T4 were similar to the breast of birds fed diet Ti. The results of this trial suggest that TBGO and PKM could be incorporated at 15% TBGO and 5% PKM at the starter phase and 20% TBGO and 10% PKM at the finisher phase without affecting growth performances, economic and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken.