Effects of replacing maize with graded levels of mango-seed kernel meal on the performance characteristics of broiler chicks and chickens

Abstract

Eighty day-old broiler chicks were fed diets in which maize was replaced weight-for-weight with mango seed-kernel meal at 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels durlng starter and finisher phases of four weeks each. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, mortality, feed conversion efficiency and feed efficiency ratio among the chicks. During the starter phase, the highest feed intake value (2001.81 g/bird) was recorded for diet IV and the least value was obtained for diet I (control diet). During the finisher phase, however, the least feed intake value (773.24 g/bird) was obtained in respect of diet I while feed intake values were similarly high for other diets. It was, therefore, concluded that mango seed-kernel meal could be utilized by broiler chicks during the starter and finisher phases and it could serve as an alternative energy source to maize in broiler starter and finisher diets.

Key words: broiler, mango seed-kernel meal, performance, alternative energy source.