Performance of Starter Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Rejected Mango Fruit Pulp and Maize Offal Mix

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing rejected mango fruit pulp - maize offal mix. The extracted mango pulp was evenly mixed with maize offal (Dusa) in a ratio of 2:3 (RMFP: MOM). The mixture was sun dried for 5 days until moisture of less than 12% was achieved. Five diets were prepared in which RMFP-MOM partially replaced maize at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% representing treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. A total of (200) day-old ROSS chicks averaged 44.24 g were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments, balancing for body weight. Each treatment group made up of forty birds, was replicated four times and each replicate had ten (10) birds in a completely randomized design (CRD). Result of the proximate analysis revealed that, RMFP-MOM contains 9.59 % crude protein, 0.99% ether extract, 3.02 %, moisture, 11.51 % crude fibre, ash was 5.47 %, 75.85 % nitrogen free extract and 3127.79 kcal/kg metabolizable energy. Phytochemicals and minerals found included Phytates (0.13%), tannin (2.53%), mycotoxin (3.76%), citric acid (0.1%), calcium (0.98%) and phosphorus (0.17%) while ADF, NDF and hemicellulose were found at levels of 10.10 %, 45.10% and 35.00 % respectively. Result on performance of the starter broiler chickens revealed significant effects (p<0.05) of RMFP-MOM on final body weight (FBW), daily weight gain (DWG) and daily feed intake (DFI) which all declined at T5 (20 % RMFP-MOM). Result on digestibility showed that, there was significantly lower (p<0.05) digestibility of ether extract in T1 (80.73 %). Cost of feed consumed was significantly lower (p<0.05) at T5. Gross revenue was ₦4000 across treatments while gross profit was higher at T5. Given the nutrients profile of RMFP-MOM as revealed by the result of the proximate analysis, it was inferred that these materials are valuable feedstuff in broiler nutrition as the use of RMFP-MOM in the diets of the broiler chicken up to 15% maintained growth rates at levels comparable to the control. The result of this study also revealed that broiler chickens can be reared at cheaper cost with the inclusion of RMFP-MOM at 15%. It was recommended that, 15 % RMFP-MOM be used in broiler diets.