The effect of inclusion of fish waste meal on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken

Abstract

This research was carried out with the aim of assessing the effect of incorporating fish waste meal as a substitute for  soybean on the growth and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of 180 day-old broiler chicks of the  Cobb-500 strain were used in this study. They had an average initial body weight of 41.36 ± 0.5 g. The chicks were  assigned randomly to four dietary treatments, with three replications per treatment. Each replicate consisted of 15  chicks, and a completely randomized design (CRD) was used. The four broiler starter and finisher diets that were tested  contained different levels of fish waste meal (FWM), specifically: 0% (T1), 7% (T2), 13.5% (T3), and 20% (T4). The daily DM,  crude protein (CP), and metabolizable energy (ME) intakes of broilers were highly significant (P < 0.001) during the  starter, finisher, and entire experimental periods. During the starter, finisher, and entire period, broilers in the T4, T3,  and T2 groups had significantly better daily DM intake (P < 0.05). The daily CP intake of broilers in T4 and T3 had  significantly better CP intake (P < 0.005) than the control group (T1) during the finisher and entire phase. Similarly,  improved ME intake and BW gain (P < 0.05) were observed in T4, T3 and T2 during the finisher phase and the entire  experimental period. The FCR of broilers fed FWM in the diets was considerably lower (P < 0.05) than the control group  during the finisher and entire phase. The eviscerated carcass yield, breast, and drum-thigh weight were significantly better (P < 0.05) in FWM treatment diet groups compared to the control group. There is a significant decline (P < 0.05) in  the weight of abdominal fat in T4 and T3 compared to the control group. Including 20% FWM in broilers' diets has  resulted in a lower feed cost per kg of BW gain and the highest net return (NR) and marginal rate of return (MRR) than  T3, T2, and control T1. Therefore, incorporating fish waste meal at 20% has improved DM intake, body weight gain  performance, carcass yield, and is economically viable for broiler production.