EFFECTS OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EXOTIC COCKERELS

Abstract

The effects of different agro-industrial wastes on the performance and nutrient retention of exotic cockerels (Barred Plymouth Rock) were studied during the early dry season of 1998. Five dietary treatments A,B,C,D and E made up of wheat offal, corn offal, millet waste, maize waste and cocoa pod husk, were formulated and supplemented with equal amounts of animal and plant proteins. The various agro-industry lasts significantly (P < 0.05) influence average body weight gain, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency ratio and total digestible nutrients of the experimental birds. The results abdicated that the inclusion of various agro industrial-products in cockerel diets had direct effects on the birds nutrient digestibility a ~utilization Fiber of various origin influenced the performance of cockerel finishers differently in tens of daily weight gain (-12.86 to 6.67glbird) and feed intake (70.74 to 92.33glbird). Wheat offal, .millet waste and cocoa pod husk did not encourage weight gain of the cockerel finishers at 38.8 U/u inclusion level whereas corn offal and maize waste supported weight gain and gave the best values (Pc0.05) for total nutrient digestibility (TDN). Despite the high fiber content of the experimental diets, no mortality was observed among the finisher cockerels.