COST EFFECTIVENESS OF BROILER CHICKS SERVED BOILED MANGO (Mangifera spp) KERNEL COMPOSITE MEAL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE.

Abstract

A study was carried out to investigate cost effectiveness of broiler chicks served boiled mango (Mangifera spp) kernel composite as a replacement for maize. A total of 180 day old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four (4) treatments (T1-T4), the experimental design used was CRD (completely randomized design). Each one of the treatments comprised of 3 replicates (fifteen birds per replicate). Feed cost was observed to have decreased as the levels of BMKCM increased in diets. Cost of feed intake was not significantly (p>0.0 5) affected across the treatment groups. Feed cost/weight gain (g) increased with heavy supplementation with BMKCM. Negative values were observed with feed cost savings per gram meat, for 20% and 10% inclusions, thereby revealing that no savings accrued with supplementation of BMKCM at these levels probably because of the poor conversion ratio. However, profit and RNI tend to increase with heavy supplementation maybe because body weight was not a price determining factor. The study concludes that, for profit maximization, 15% of BMKCM should be included in chicks’ diets.