EFFECT OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) GRAIN ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF COBB 500 BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

A total of 300 day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were distributed randomly into 20 pens with 15 chicks per replication with a total of 5 different feed treatments to evaluate the growth performances and carcass characteristics of Cobb 500 broiler chickens fed different inclusion levels of cowpea grain for the life time of 49 days. The research was conducted using completely randomized design (CRD). Inclusion levels of cowpea grain in the different treatments were 0% (T1), 5% (T2), 10% (T3), 15% (T4) and 20% (T5). At the end of the experiment four birds 2 male and 2 female from each replication were selected based on the pen average weight to evaluate carcass characteristics of Cobb 500 broiler chickens fed the different inclusion levels of cowpea grain. Moreover, partial budget analysis was done for the different level of treatment. The result of the study reveal that, Crude protein and Dry Matter content of cowpea grain were 25.76%, 89.94% and 3307.37 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Dry Matter (DM) intakes of chickens at the starter phase ranged 44 to 45.16 g/bird/day. There were no significance (P>0.05) difference between treatments on DM intake of Cobb 500 broiler chickens. DM intakes of chickens at finisher phase ranged 113.9 to 117.20 g/bird/day. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between treatments. In the whole experimental period the DM intakes ranged 83.78 to 85.88 g/bird/day. No significance (P>0.05) difference were observed on DM intake in all inclusion levels. Daily body weight gains for the entire experimental period were 34.82, 34.27, 36.81, 35.74 and 33.08g (SEM=0.46) for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in growth performance and carcass parameters in the whole experimental period among the different inclusion levels of cowpea grain. Percentage of mortality were 5% for treatment T1 and T4, while there were no mortality on T2, T3, and T5 respectively. There was no significant difference on carcass yield and gut parts in male and female Cobb 500 broiler chickens except for drumstick weight and drumstick percentage greater in male whereas, fat percentage was significantly (P<0.05) higher for female than male broiler chickens. Partial budget analysis of the different treatments calculated based on change in total return. Change in total return were greater in T3 followed by T5, T4 and T2, marginal rate of return were greater in T3 (32.96) than T2 (5.62), T4 (2.4) and T5 (3.42).This study indicated that inclusion of cowpea from 5-20% in the diet of broiler chickens has no adverse effect on growth performance and from the point of partial budget analysis T3 (10% inclusion level of cowpea grain) is profitable.