Growth performance and feed cost benefit of starter broiler chickens fed diet containing earthworm meal

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance and feed cost benefit of starter broiler chickens offered graded levels of earthworm meal in replacement for fishmeal. Atotal of 120, one day old Anak broiler chicks were procured from a reputable hatchery and allotted to four treatment groups of 30 birds each. Each group was further divided into three replicates of 10 birds per replicate. A total number of four diets were used in the feeding trial. Diet 1 (control) has fish meal and no earthworm meal, while in diets 2,3 and 4, the quantity of fishmeal in the control diet was replaced by 25%, 50% and 100% respectively with earthworm meal. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the performance of the birds. On the average daily feed intake of birds in diets 2 and 4 had high (P>0.05) feed intake, followed by the birds in diets 3, while the birds in diet 1 had the lowest feed intake. But there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in feed conversion ratio. The feed cost benefit analysis revealed a significant difference (P<0.05) on cost of feed consumed. Feed cost per kg was reduced as the levels of earthworm meal increased. Replacement of fishmeal with earthworm meal at 25%, 50% and 100% has the potential to improve the growth performance of broiler birds. Therefore, it is recommended to commercial poultry farmers to use earthworm meals in their poultry feeding.