The Effects Of Replacing Groundnut Cake With Cottonseed Cake On The Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The effects of replacing groundnut cake (GNC) with cottonseed cake (CSC) at 0, 50 and 100% levels in starter and finisher diets on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and gut morphology were evaluated in a 56 - day feeding trial. Average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, and feed/gain ratio were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by dietary treatments at the starter and finsiher phases. Higher levels of CSC significantly depressed feed intake and weight gain of birds at the starter finisher phases. Eviscerated weight (E.W) dressing percentage, total edible meat, and abdominal fat pad decreased with increasing level of CSC while weights and lengths of small intestine, large intestine, caeca and gizzard weight increased significantly ( P < 0.05) from 0 to 100% CSC diets. It can be concluded that CSC inclusion at 50 and 100% level had adverse effect on performance and carcass parameters assessed.

Keywords: Groundnut cake, Cotton seed Cake, performance