PERFORMANCE AND COST IMPLICATION OF BROILER CHICKENS FED GRADED LEVELS OF PUMPKIN SEED MEAL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4099Keywords:
Broiler, Cost implication, Performance, Pumpkin seed meal, Soybean mealAbstract
The high cost of conventional feedstuff has necessitated the search for alternative feedstuff. This study was conducted to determine the performance and cost implication of broiler chickens fed graded levels of pumpkin seed meal. Pumpkin seed sourced locally was toasted, milled and tagged as pumpkin seed meal (PSM). Four treatments (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were formulated in which soybean meal (SBM) was replaced with PSM by 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5%, respectively. Treatment 1 served as control. One hundred and sixty (160) day-old Hubbard broilers chicks were used. They were randomly distributed into the four treatments. Each treatment had 40 chicks divided into four replicates of 10 each. The design used was a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments and drinking water were supplied ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Total feed intake and daily feed intake were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by treatments. Total weight gain (TWG), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p<0.05) affected by treatments. Birds fed T3 had highest TWG and DWG comparable to T1 while T4 had lowest. Also, birds fed T3 had best feed conversion ratio comparable to T1 while T4 had worst. Cost of feed reduced with increased inclusion level of PSM in the diets. However, T3 had the least total
cost of feed consumed while T1 had highest. Again, T3 had least feed cost/kg body weight while T4 had highest. It may be concluded that 5% PSM is recommended for economics of broiler production.