GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS YIELD OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING COCONUT SHELL CHARCOAL

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diets containing graded levels ofcoconut shell charcoal (CSC) on growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens. A total of 150 unsexed broiler chicks of Ross 308 strains were used in the experiment. The chicks were randomly divided into five treatment groups: T1(0% CSC), T2(2% CSC), T3(4% CSC), T4(6% CSC) and T5(8% CSC), with 30 birds each per treatment. Each of the 5 treatments was further replicated three (3) times in a Completely Randomized Design. At the end of the experiment, the results showed that final live weights, weight gains, daily weight gains and Feed conversion Ratio (FCR) at the finisher phase were better in birds fed diets containing6% CSC which were significantly similar (P>0.05) to other groups except those fed 8% CSC. The growth performance results suggest that CSC is beneficial in larger amounts at the finisherphase (6%) but not up to 8%. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the carcass and internal organ weights across the treatment groups except the dressing percentage, dressed weight and large intestine. Birds fed diets containing 4% CSC had better dressed weight compared to others, although similar (P>0.05) to T1, T2 and T4 but differ from T5. The present study appeared to justify the dietary inclusion of CSC in broiler chicken diets up to 6% and is therefore recommended.