FEED COST OF BROILER CHICKENS FED TIGERNUT (CYPERUS ESCULENTUS) MEAL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MAIZE IN SEMI – ARID ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

A feeding trial of 6-weeks was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) TNM with maize on the cost of feed of 150-day-old Abor acre broiler chicks. Five experimental broiler starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet T1 formulated to contain 0 % Tigernut while diet T2, T3, T4 and T5 were formulated to contain Tigernut meal at 10, 15, and 20 and 25% substituting for maize, respectively. Thirty (30) chicks were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments in a completely randomized designed (CRD). Each treatment consisted of three replicates of ten (10) chicks. The results of Total feed cost (N), Total feed intake (Kg/bird), cost/kg feed (N) and cost/kg gain (N/kg) was analyzed. The result of the study revealed significant (< 0.05) differences in Total weight gain (Kg/bird), cost/Kg feed (N), Total feed cost (N) and cost per Kg gain (N/Kg). The general trend revealed that feed cost per kilogram decreased with increasing level of Tigernut meal in the diets. The highest substituting value (25% Tigernut meal) recorded the lowest (N123.60K) feed cost per kilogram, while the control (0% Tigernut meal) recorded the highest (N131.33K) feed cost per kilogram. This revealed that substitution level at 25% Tigernut meal is more cost effective than other treatments. Therefore, this indicated that the use of Tigernut meal is cost effective when used asa substitute for maize at 25% substitution levels.