PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF FINISHER BROILER CHICKENS FED SELECTED COMMERCIAL DIETS SOLD IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS

Abstract

The preponderance of substandard commercial poultry feeds in the Nigerian feed market has been identified as one of the challenges facing poultry production. A study was conducted to assess the utilization of some commercial feeds by finisher broiler chickens. Two hundred and fifty-five (255) broiler chickens weighing between 792 and 804g were randomly allotted to five diets in replicates of three containing 17 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were served ad libitum and the experiment lasted for 4 weeks. Results of growth performance showed that most parameters; final weight, total weight gain, daily feed intake, daily weigh gain and feed conversion ratio, were significantly (P<0.05) influenced in favour of diets 1 and 3. Daily feed intake ranged between 127.42 and 156.54g, daily weight gain from 45.10 to 58.86g and feed conversion ratio from 2.54 to 3.04. Total weight gain was highest (P<0.05) in birds fed diet 3 (1728.08g) and least for those on diets 2, 4 and 5 (1312.80 – 1458.96g). Feed cost per kg was least in diet 1 (N274.00) and highest in diet 5 (N300.00) while feed cost per kg gain was least in diet 2 (N741.23) and highest in diet 3 (N1020.68). It was therefore concluded that diet 3 which gave a total weight gain of 1728.08g had better nutritional composition vis-a-vis the requirements for finisher broiler chickens.