THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF USING SUPERNATANT OF FERMENTED MAIZE (Omidun) AS COMPARED WITH COMMERCIALLY PREPARED PROBIOTICS IN BROILER PRODUCTION

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The research aimed to study the cost benefits of using supernatant of fermented maize (SFM) (Omidun) as a probiotic on productivity of broiler chicken. One hundred- and fifty-day-old Cobb500 broiler chicks were divided into five groups of 30 birds each in triplicates. Group A served as the negative control,
group B were given commercially prepared probiotics (Beta probiotics), while groups C, D and E were given standardized Omidun at 10, 5 and 2.5ml/l, respectively on daily basis for six weeks. Body weight (BW), weight gain (WG) and feed intake (FI) were measured weekly and feed conversion ratio was
calculated. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in the growth parameters either weekly or cumulatively, although, group C had the best performance biologically. The highest mean cumulative FI was recorded in group B followed by groups E, C, D and A, respectively. Production cost was least in group A (₦377.38/bird), followed by groups E (₦403.22/bird), D (₦420.30/bird) and C (₦463.22/bird), while it was highest in group B (₦909.68/bird). Also, groups A and C had the highest gain margin, followed by those of groups D and E and least in group C. However, the lower production cost and gains
from groups A, D and E were counteracted by higher mortalities recorded in these groups, compared to group C. Therefore, it was more cost effective to use SFM at 10ml/l than at lower doses of 5 and 2.5ml/l as well as than using commercially prepared probiotics.