COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FIVE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL BROILER CHICKENS FEEDS IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Production, ATBU Bauchi, to study the effects of five industrial feeds on the growth performance, carcass yields and cost benefit of broiler chickens. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) day old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to the five diets in a completely randomized design (CRD) with forty five (45) chicks per diet in three replicates of fifteen (15) chicks each. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum and the feeding trial lasted for 6 weeks. The proximate compositions of the selected feeds indicated that all of the feeds meet the nutritional requirements of broiler chickens. The crude protein contents of the starter feeds ranges from 19 to 23  and that of finisher ranges between 17 to 20. Results of starter phase showed high significant difference (P<0.01) on daily feed intake (65.29-75.15g) and daily weight gain (40.99-53.86g). However, daily feed intake at finisher phase were highly significant (P<0.001) with values ranging between 157.10 - 177.74g on diets D1 and D2 respectively. Also, the overall performance showed a significant (P<0.05) difference on feed conversion ratio (1.60-1.94). There is no significant (P>0.05) difference on most of the carcass parameters except on lungs weight (0.48-0.69%) and abdominal fat (0.71-156%) which were significant at P<0.05 and P<0.001 respectively. The best feed cost per kg gain of ₦852.37 was obtained on D5 with the highest total weight gain (2.91kg). Based on the result of this study, industrial feeds enhanced growth performance and carcass yield without negative impact on broiler birds. However, D5 was most economical and recommended for poultry producers in the study area.