GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF GROWING PULLETS FED VARYING INCLUSION LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL CAKE

Abstract

The effect of feeding varying inclusion levels of palm kernel cake (PKC) on the growth performance and costbenefit analysis of growing pullets was determined in a nine week study. Ninety six 11-weeks old pullets (Golden nestlink strain) averaging 710.00±10.86 g bodyweight (BW) were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups (T1-T4), replicated twice with 12 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was allotted to four diets having graded levels of PKC thus: T1=0 % PKC 100 kg-1 diet, T2=5 % PKC100 kg-1 diet, T3= 10 % PKC 100 kg-1 diet and T4=15 % PKC 100 kg-1 diet. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Results showed that the effect of diets on final BW, BW gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kg gain were significant (p<0.05). Average daily weight gain of 12.38±0.07 g observed in birds of T4 was significantly different (p<0.05) from values of 8.41±0.04 g, 9.20±0.02 g and 11.26±0.05 g recorded for birds in T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Birds on treatment T4 (15 % PKC) had superior feed cost per kg gain of ₦
348.19±9.86 which differed significantly (p<0.05) from ₦ 389.06±11.02, ₦ 489.22±8.72 and ₦ 456.10±10.11 observed in T3, T2 and T1 respectively. It was also observed that feed intake, weight gain alongside cost differential values of treatment diets increased as dietary PKC levels increased from 0-15 % 100 kg-1
. It was thus concluded that growing pullets can cost-effectively tolerate up to 15 % PKC in their diets without compromising performance.