Comparison between local and imported commercial concentrates on the performance of broiler chicks

Abstract EN

Seventy, unsexed one day old broiler chicks (Ross) were used to determine the effect of feeding local concentrate on the performance of broiler chicks and to assess its economic advantage.

Birds were distributed randomly into two treatments with five replicates (7 chicks/replicate).

Diets were formulated to be approximately isocaloric and isonitrogenous and to meet the National Research Council (1994) nutrient requirements for broilers.

Metabolizable energy was (3076 kcal/kg) and crude protein was (21%).

The experiment lasted for seven weeks.

Parameters measured were: feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, dressing and mortality percentage.

The results revealed that replacement of imported super concentrate by local concentrate had similar effect on the performance of broiler chicks (feed intake, live weight, feed conversion ratio and dressing %).

Feed cost per kg and cost of broiler meat per kg, was lowered by 11 % and 14.5 %, respectively, where local feed was used as compared to imported feed.

Results proved that it was possible to formulate a successful local concentrates which was nutritionally optimal and economically