EVALUATION OF GROWTH TRAITS AND COST BENEFITS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED MAIZE COB AS SOURCE OF FIBRE AT GRADED LEVELS OF INCLUSION

Abstract

A research was conducted to evaluate the growth traits and cost benefits of broiler chickens fed maize cob as source of fibre at graded of levels inclusion using 150 day old broiler chicks and they were allotted into five treatments designated Diet 1 (T1) contained 100% maize as control, diet 2 (T2) contained 25% maize cob inclusion level, diet 3 (T3) contained 50% maize cob, diet 4 (T4) contained 75% maize cob and diet 5 (T5) contained 100% maize cob inclusion level and three (3) replicate containing ten (10) birds in a completely randomized design (CRD)Data were generated on the growth traits and cost benefit of the broiler chicken The experiment lasted for eight (8) weeks Result obtained revealed significant (p<0.05) differences in all the treatment groups Except the initial body weight that was not significant (p<0.05) differences of the growth traits, also cost benefit revealed significant (p<0.05) differences across the parameters measured . Thus it was concluded that birds in T2 (birds fed diet incorporated with 25% of maize cob) had the best growth performance and (₦1637.58) for the cost of feed and total cost of feed per bird respectively in the parameter as compared to birds on T3, T2 and T4and also recorded the least mortality rate as compared to the control diet in T1 and as such, 25% of maize cob can be incorporated in broilers diet as a replacement for energy source without any negative effect on the birds.