Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Economics of Replacing Maize with Irish Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Peel Meal in Broiler Chickens Diets

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of dietary replacement of maize with Irish potato peels (IPPM) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and cost savings for broiler chickens. A total of 180 Anak 2000, 14-day-old unsexed broiler chicks, with an initial weight of 321 ± 2g, were used. The birds were randomly allocated to 5 groups in a completely randomized design (CRD) and fed diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 % Irish potato peel meal (IPPM) as a replacement for maize. The feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) values were 74.86, 94.82, 93.90, 98.43, and 96.96 g/bird and 2.10, 2.35, 1.99, 1.98, and 2.05 for D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 at the starter phase. No significant effect on feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at this phase. In contrast, FI and FCR values of 145.99, 159.54, 161.82, 170.87, 170.18, and 2.00, 2.32, 2.22, 2.29, and 2.72 were significant (p < 0.05) at the finisher phase. Average daily weight gain values of 35.89, 40.87, 46.46, 48.85, and 46.60g/bird at the starter phase were significantly (p > 0.05) affected but were statistically similar at the finisher phase. No significant effect (p > 0.05) on the live weight, carcass weight, slaughtered weight, plucked, eviscerated weights, and dressing percentage. Significant dietary (p< 0.05) effects on the relative weights of the heart, lungs, and liver were recorded. Birds on diet (D5) recorded a significantly higher shank (p > 0.05) value (4.28g) while those in D2 recorded a significantly higher gizzard value (1.87g). The total feed cost per kilogram gain (? ) was statistically similar across groups, however, birds in D2-D5 had higher values numerically in contrast to the control. In conclusion, IPPM can replace maize by up to 40% without harming broilers.