Performance and carcass evaluation of broiler chickens fed graded levels of unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) peel meal

Abstract

The ever-increasing price of feed ingredients especially the conventional energy sources is a great challenge to profitable poultry production. This predicament led to the search for unconventional energy sources for broilers’ feed production. A total of eighty-four-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used in this feeding trial in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). This encompasses four treatments replicated thrice for six weeks; two weeks of acclimatisation and four weeks of feeding trial. Seven birds were allotted to each of the replicates. Maize was partially replaced by unripe plantain peel meal (UPPM) at graded levels of 0, 5, 10 and 20%. The birds were served feed and water ad libitum. Data on performance, selected internal organs, cost of feed per treatment, carcasses and chicken parts taken were statistically analysed. The performance parameters showed no significant difference (p>0.05), while the cost of the diets reduced in a pattern of diet 1 > diet 2 > diet 3 > diet 4, showing the feed cost price lowering potential of UPPM. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in some of the selected organs and carcass parameters. The dressing percentage differs significantly (p<0.05), but the values from all the groups fall within the acceptable range of 65 to 70% recommended for broilers in the literature. It was concluded that UPPM has the potential to replace 5 to 10% maize in the diets of broiler chickens without any harmful effects.