REPLACEMENT VALUE OF CASHEW NUT WASTE AT GRADED LEVELS FOR MAIZE IN GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The effects of replacing maize with cashew nut waste (CNW) at graded levels, on the growth and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens were investigated. CNW was incorporated into the broiler starter and then finisher diets that were used, at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of dietary maize on weight basis. One hundred and five (105) chicks were used for the experiment. They were randomly allocated into five (5) dietary treatments with three (3) replicates of 21 chicks each for a 42-day feeding trial. Results indicated that broilers chicks fed CNW at 25% had similar weight with that of control. The body weight gain and feed intake were significantly different (P < 0.05), 0 and 25% CNW had the highest feed intake, while 100% CNW had the lowest, significantly (P < 0.05). The weight of shank, back and breast were significantly different (P < 0.05), while those of thigh, neck, and wing were not. The results showed that CNW could be incorporated up to 25% in broiler chicken diets without adverse effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics.