Evaluation of tiger nut (<i>Cyperus Esculentus</i>) waste as feed ingredient in broiler chicken diet

Abstract

The poultry industry has been making valuable contributions to lessen the problem of malnutrition, particularly in the developing countries by providing consumers around the world with a cheap but high quality source of protein. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) waste (TNW) as feed ingredient on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken. One hundred and twenty day-old Arbor acre strains of broiler chicken were assigned to four treatments with thirty birds per treatment, each treatment had 3 replicates of 10 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design. Dietary treatment included: basal diet + 0.0% TNW (T1), basal diet + 5% TNW (T2) basal diet + 10% TNW (T3) and basal diet + 15% TNW (T4). The study lasted for 7 weeks. Data were collected on growth performance and carcass quality using standard method. Significant means were separated using Duncan multiple range test  at p ≤0.05 level of significance. The final weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio varied significantly (P<0.05) among treatments. Highest feed intake was obtained in T1 (3913.87g) and lowest value in T4 (3720.94g). However, highest weight was obtained in T2 (1825.33g), while the lowest value was obtained in T4 (1600.00g). No Significant (p> 0.05) difference was observed in primal cut part. Highest drumstick value of 10.36% was obtained in T2 and lowest value of 9.00% was obtained in T3. Highest breast weight of 26.73% was obtained in T2 and lowest value of 23.88% in T4. However, there was no significant differences (p>0.05) in organ weight. In conclusion TNW at 5% inclusion level in the diets of broiler chicken had no detrimental effect on performance and carcass quality.

Keywords: Broiler, tigernut waste, performance characteristics, carcass characteristics.