There are number of factors
(nutrient content, particle size, palatability etc) influencing growth rate of
broiler birds. Studies have shown that broiler gained more weight with
increased energy level and had significantly improved feed conversion. If there
is protein deficiency in the feed then it results in reduced feed consumption
and loss of body weight in adult birds (Coon, 2001). Broilers are normally fed
pelleted feed throughout the growing cycle (Lacy, 2001), chicks are provided
pelleted feed that has been crumbled so that it is in pieces small enough for
the birds, to consume easily.
However, both commercial and home
made feed were in the form of crumbs and there was no trace of pellets.
Physically commercial feed contained more crumbs than home made feed which was
mainly dominated by fine small crumbs and powdery form. With better crude
protein content and appropriate crumb size seen in commercial feed, it is clear
that growth rate is better in commercially fed birds as compared to home made
fed birds.
There were significant (P<0.05)
difference weight gain-birds on commercial diet had total weight gain of
2657.5g while those in home made feed (T had 1905.0g. This is an indication
that birds on (treatment 1) performed better in weight than those in (treatment
II). It could be attributed to low energy and protein in the home made feed
which resulted to lower body weights and the anti-nutritional factors which can
be found in home made feed (Coon 2001).
The cost of feed is the major
investment incurred in poultry farming business, and this must attempt at
faster growth of broilers with excellent feed conversion ratio (FCR). In
general, it is said that most efficient poultry farmers are producing broilers averaging.
1.45kg to 1.5kg at six weeks with average feed conversion ratio of 2.0, and
mortality less than 2.5% (Saxena, 1999).
The FCR calculated for commercially
fed birds was 2.56 and home made fed birds 3.48. In other words, amount of feed
eaten by birds in treatment 1 to gain 1 kg of live weight was 2.56, while birds
in treatment II had to eat 3.48kg of feed to gain 1kg live weight. This
suggests that animals that have low FCR are considered efficient users of feed.
In fact, FCR was better than the standard value suggested by Saxena (1999). The
ideal environmental temperature, good housing conditions (air quality, litter
management) and aflatoxin free feeds may have been the reasons for good feed
efficiency.
Since two categories of feeds were
used, FCR alone cannot reveal the efficiency of feed. It is also important to
calculate the cost effectiveness of feed used.
There were no significance (p>0.05)
effects on the cost/kg weight gain and cost-benefit ratio. Significant (p. <0.05)
difference was observed on the cost/kg feed intake. Birds on commercial feed
had higher value (#747.45) while birds on home made had lower value (#510.28).
From the above, it could be noticed that birds on commercial feed consumed more
feed thereby making the cost/feed intake high, unlike birds on home made feed
that ate less feed.
There was significant (p<0.05)
difference on the cost. The cost implication of birds on commercial feed was
higher than that of home made feed. It could be noticed that the cost of home
made feed was cheaper, because it is cheap and readily available unlike the
conventional feed (commercial feed) which are costly.
There was significant (p<0.05)
effects on the revenue. Birds on commercial feed made revenue of #5366.68 while
those on home made feed made revenue of #3881.26.
This
could be attributed to much cash realized from sales per bird on treatment 1 to
sales from birds on treatment II. Birds on home made feeds had lower weights
therefore had less price compared to birds on treatment I that had higher
weight which attracted higher price in the market.
Since the revenue realized from the
birds on treatment I was higher than the revenue realized from the birds on
treatment 11, it goes to say that higher
benefit were realized form birds on treatment I to those on treatment 11
CONCLUSION
The performance of broilers fed
with commercial feed was better than the home made feed. It was justifiable for
private broiler farms or any other broiler farms to use commercial feed.
However, this experiment does not indicate that homemade feed is a poor quality
feed. In fact, it has achieved 2.0kg live weight and this is highly acceptable
market live weight at 56 days. To further improve the home made feed, the study
recommends the following:
·
There is need to
increase CP content of home made broiler starter feed (at least up to 23% cp)
·
Physical form
(particle size) of feed needs improvement if home made feed is to attract
customers within and outside Nigeria. Studies have shown that feeding pellets
made into crumbs as starter diet, and pellets as finisher diet significantly
increases live weight and improves feed efficiency (Yule, 1974; Saxena, 1999;
coon 2001)
·
To further
substantiate this experiment, similar studies with adequate treatment and
replicates either by the feed mills or by relevant institutions within the
university would be extremely useful.
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