Research

Performance of broilers fed premix prepared from locally sourced materials

*Oyewole B O, Olarenwaju G and Dafwang  II

Department of Animal Production, Kogi State University,  Anyigba. Nigeria

*Corresponding Author Email: benjowole@yahoo.com
 

Accepted 24 March, 2013

Abstract

One hundred and eighty 7-day old broilers were used in a 28 days feeding trial to determine the effect of premixes prepared from locally sourced ingredients on the performance and economics of production of broiler starters. Five (5) broiler starter diets were formulated such that Diet 1 was the control and contained the commercial premix. Diets 2 and 3 contained 2.3% and 4.6% of premix 1 respectively. Premix 1 was formulated with blood meal, fish meal, wood ash and Moringaoleifera leaf meal. Diets 4 and 5 had 2.3% and 4.6% of premix 2 respectively, prepared from blood meal, fish meal and poultry litter ash. The birds were randomly allotted to the five diets in a Completely Randomized Design. Each treatment comprised of three replicates of 12 birds per replicate. The results showed that final weight (551.00 ¬- 682.00g), daily feed consumed (43.67 – 50.07g), daily weight gain (14.03 – 19.00g) and feed: gain ratio (2.44 – 3.11) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments.Cost of feed/kg and cost of feed consumed per bird were affected (P<0.05) by the type of premix. The use of commercial premix resulted in the cheapest feed (control) per kg. Cost of feed consumed per bird was lowest with the control birds, followed by Diet 3 while birds on Diets 2 and 5 had the highest. Feed cost /kg gain was not significantly (P>0.05) influenced but numerically the controlled (Diet1) was the least economical in terms of economy of utilization. This may indicate that production of premix from locally sourced could result in higher profit margin for poultry farmers.

Keywords: Performance, premix, broiler