PERFORMANCE OF FINISHER TURKEY FED CASHEW NUT MEAL – MAIZE OFFAL MIX AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE

Abstract

The effect of partial replacement of maize with cashew nut meal – maize offal mix on the performance of finisher turkey was investigated. A basal (control) diet was formulated to meet requirements of turkey (finisher phase) and three other diets were formulated by substituting 10%, 20% and 30% of maize in the basal (control) diet with cashew nut meal – maize offal mix in ratio of 2:1-. One hundred and twenty 13 weeeks old turkeys of NICOLAS White® strain was used in this study. They were randomly assigned to the four treatments which were replicated thrice with 10 turkeys per replicate. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized design. The turkey (finisher phase) were fed with their respective diets for four weeks during which records of the average weight gain (AWG), average feed consumed (AFC), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein intake, protein efficiency ratio were taken. The replacement of maize with cashew nut meal – maize offal resulted in increase in final live weight and weight gain of turkey fed the experimental diets. The highest final weight (5,450g) was recorded in turkey fed 30% replacement level of cashew nut meal – maize offal (diet 4). While the lowest final live weight (5,180g) was obtained in turkey fed 0% replacement level of cashew nut meal – maize offal (diet 1). The highest average weight gain (1,910g) was recorded in diet (4) while the lowest average weight gain (1,700g) was obtained in diet (2). The lowest feed intake (6, 213g) was noticed in turkey (finisher phase) fed diet 4 (30% replacement level of cashew nut meal – maize offal) while the highest feed intake (6, 491g) was recorded in diet 3. The best feed conversion ratio (3.25) was obtained in diet 4 (30% replacement level of cashew nut meal – maize offal). It was recommended that maize could be replaced up to 30% level with cashew nut meal – maize offal in turkey (finisher phase) diets in regions where this waste is abundant with a view to achieving substantial saving in the unit cost of turkey production.