Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Cost Benefit Analysis of Broiler Chickens Fed Graded Levels of Rice Milling Waste

Abstract

Two hundred and twenty five (225) Anak-2000 day-old broiler chicks were used to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics and cost benefit analysis. The birds were allotted to five treatments.  Each treatment has three replicates with 15 chicks each. Rice milling waste (RMW) replaced 0%(control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of maize in five diets that were fed ad libitum for a period of three and six weeks at starter and finisher phases respectively. The experimental design was completely randomized design (CRD).  Results obtained show that the mean values for final weight gain, daily weight gain and FCR among the treatments were not significantly different (P > 0.05) but the feed intake showed significant (P < 0.05) difference among treatments. The mean values for the live weight, slaughter weight and dressed weight and organ weights that were expressed as the percentage of the slaughter weight were not affected (P > 0.05) however, the shank and abdominal fat values differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the treatments. .Finally, the economic analysis showed that RMW-based diets supported heavier weight gain (2742.50–2957.14 g) compared to control diets (2715.39 g) and cost less to produce a unit weight(N221.04-264.91) than the  control (N287.78) diets. The use of RMW in broiler   chicken diet shows a reduction in the cost of production and increases in the profit margin of raising broiler chickens. Also it was observed that up to 100% level of maize could be replaced with RMW in broiler chicken diets without adverse effect on the productive parameters. Further study is suggested to establish rice milling waste as a source of energy in chickens’ diets particularly on layers.

Keywords: performance, carcass characteristics & cost benefit analysis