ABSTRACT

A 21day feeding trial involving one hundred and fifty (150) five weeks old broiler chicks was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, carcass, organ and economic, characteristics of broiler finishers fed diets containing varying levels of toasted Bambara groundnut offal (TBGO) at the finisher stage. The birds were assigned to five dietary treatments groups of 30 birds per treatment with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The birds were fed diets containing varying levels of toasted Bambara groundnut offal at 0%, 7.5%, 15.0%, 22.5% and 30% designated as diets 1,2,3,4 and 5, respectively. Diet 1 (0% level of inclusion) was the control diet. The bird were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and weekly thereafter while mortalities were recorded as it occurred. Experimental diets and water were giving to birds ad-libitum. A 8 weeks of age, 2 birds per replicate were weighed and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. The parameters such as economics of production , growth performance carcass and organ characteristics were assessed at the end ofthe experiment. For growth performance of broilers, all parameters showed significant differences (p<0.05) except average daily feed intake. The final live weight and average daily gain (ADG) ofthe birds fed diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 were significantly higher (p<0.05) than birds fed diet 5. The birds fed diet 4(2.81) had significantly lower feed conversion ratio than that ofbirds fed diet 5 (6.16) but was similar to birds fed diets 1^2 and 3. Birds fed diet 4 (2066.67g), diet 1 (1966.67g), diet 3 (1800.00g) had significantly (p<0.05) higher live weight at slaughter than birds fed diet 2 (1933.33g) and 5 (1666.67g). However birds fed diet 4 had significantly (p<0.05) lower back cut than birds fed diet 5 but was similar (p>0.05) to the back ofbirds fed diets 1,2 and 3. There was no significant (p>0.05) differences in relative organ weights of the birds. Birds fed diet 4(N392.89) had the lowest cost/kg gain which was similar (P>0.05) to birds fed diets 1,2 and 3 but differed significantly (p<0.05) from birds fed diet 5 (N835.72) that had the highest cost/kg gain. The total cost offed consumed was significantly higher for birds fed the control diet than birds fed the other treatment diets. Birds fed diets 4 and 1 generated the highest revenue (N1653.33; N1568.00) and gross margin (N1232.82; Nil 10.51) which was significantly different (p<0.05) from birds fed diet 5 (N1165.33). It could be concluded that toasted Bambara groundnut offal could be incorporated in broiler diets up to 22.5% dietary level without adverse effect on growth performance, carcass yield ensuring optimum performance and economic benefit to the farmer