Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 8
Volume 8 | Issue - 7
Volume 8 | Issue - 7
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different combinations of local by-products in growth-finishing rations on the zootechnical parameters of broilers. 225 chicks of the COOB 500 strain, aged 18 days and weighing an average of 605.63 g, were divided into 5 groups of 45 subjects. Each batch of chickens was fed a specific diet, comprising the commercial control and rations R4, R5, R6 and R7. In these rations, maize was partially replaced by 10% cashew apples combined with 10% mango peel, 10% cashew apples combined with 10% mango kernels, 10% mango peel combined with 10% mango seeds, 6% cashew apples combined with 7% mango peel and 7% mango kernels. Soya meal was also partially replaced by 10% cottonseed meal in each of these diets. Chickens were reared on these diets from day 19 to day 45. On day 45, the weight and average daily gain of the chickens fed the RT diet were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the other batches. Among the diets containing by-products, chickens in batches R5 and R4 had the highest average daily weights and gains. On the other hand, chickens in batch RT had the lowest feed conversion indices. The use of by-products reduced production costs per kilogram of feed and increased gross margins in the R5 and R4 diets compared with the RT control. Dried cashew apple in combination with dried mango skin or almond and cottonseed meal could reduce production costs and improve the profitability of broiler farms.