ABSTRACT

 From 3 weeks until 8 weeks, one hundred unsexed Anak Broiler chicks were offered five diets in a completely Randomized design. Diet 1, designated control had no oil (supplemental fat) while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 had 2% of their maize replaced with palm oil, groundnut oil, palm kernel oil and soya oil respectively. The results showed that the chicken's mean daily body weight gain was not (P>0.05) different for all the treatments. Birds fed diet 3 gave the highest numerical value (31.71g), which was closely followed by birds fed diet 2 (29.57g) while others were 26.28g (D1), 25.57g (D4) and 23.71g (05). The feed-to-gain ratio also followed the same trend as obtained in the mean daily body weight gain, showing a direct relationship, showing diets 3 and 2 to be numerically superior to the other diets. Among the economic parameters considered, only the cost per kg feed consumed showed significant difference (P<0.05). Birds fed diet 3 gave the highest cost per Kg feed intake value (N140.28) while diet 2 gave the least value (N125.23) more money was realized from feeding diets 3 (N1040) and 2 (N1011) than the others. It was also observed that birds fed diets 3 and 2 require more energy (1110 and 1035kcal/kg ME/day) than the others, with D5 having the least value (830 kcal/kg ME/day). This same trend was also observed when the total daily protein requirements for the growing broiler chickens, protein requirements for maintenance, feather growth and tissue growth were considered. In conclusion, diets 2 and 3 which respectively contain 2% palm oil and groundnut oil marginally enhanced productive and economic performance of broiler chickens under a humid tropical environment.