Philippine E-Journals

Growth Performance of Broilers Fed with Various Levels of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus Cajan)

Raul B. Palaje | Camilo G. Banguilan

Discipline: Education, Research, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seed as plant protein source in a homemade feed diet for free range type broiler chicken. Seventy-five, 17-days old unsexed broiler chicks (Bounty Fresh) were used in the experiment. Five dietary treatments containing 0, 5,8,11, and 14 % C.cajan seed meal were formulated to meet the nutrient requirement as outlined by NRC (1994). This study was laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) replicated thrice with 5 birds/replicate. It lasted for four weeks. Parameters measured were feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing percentage. Feed cost, feed cost/kg gain and saving on feed cost / kg gain were also analyzed to determine the economics of using pigeon pea seed meal in the diet. Results revealed that dietary inclusion of pigeonpea seed meal (PpSM) significantly improved the feed conversion ratio while a decreasing trend of feed consumption was noted as the inclusion level of pigeonpea seed meal increases. The weight gain of birds fed sole commercial feed was significantly heavier than all diets with a mean of 1,232 gram and similarly efficient FCR of 2.77. Among the treatments with PpSM, birds fed with 11% level pigeonpea had obtained significantly higher final weight with a mean of 1,035.66 grams. At this level, the FCR of 3.31 is comparably efficient to commercial feed in converting feed into a kilo of broiler meat and registered the highest return above feed cost of PhP 36.76 per bird.