Replacement levels of feather meal to fishmeal in broiler birds (A case study in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State)

One hundred and forty-four (144) day old “Sayyed” broiler birds were used to determine the effect of replacing fishmeal with feather meal on the growth performance and cost benefit analysis of broiler birds. The birds were randomly selected and distributed into four treatment groups of thirty-six birds, each comprising three replicates per treatment with twelve birds per replicate, which was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) format. Isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated with the inclusion of the feather meal to replace fishmeal at the rate of 0, 25, 50 and 75% corresponding to T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Feed and water were given ad-libitum and relevant drugs and vaccination were administered to the birds as when due. Proximate composition of feather meal and the experimental diet was also carried out according to laid out procedure and standard. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in the parameters obtained for growth performance and cost benefit analysis across the treatment groups. Growth performance was significantly (p<0.05) influenced across the treatments with treatment 2 having a superior (p<0.05) value for final body weight, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio with values of 2520.10 g, 46.72 g and 2.55, which was closely followed by treatment 2 (2490.74 g, 46.12 g and 2.57), while the least values were obtained in treatment 4 (2315.34 g, 42.56 g and 2.78) respectively. Cost benefit analysis showed that profit obtained and cost benefit ratio was superior in treatment 3 (50%) with values of ₦667.51 and 2.55, while the least was observed in treatment 1 (₦514.69 and 3.56) respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that inclusion of feather meal in the diet of broiler birds up to the level of 75% is possible without much impact on their performance.