Abstract:
A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of soybean meal (SBM) in the ration on feed intake, growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics and economics of commercial broiler chicks. Two hundred twenty five day-old Cobb-500 unsexed commercial chicks with initial body weight of 48.87±0.42g were used for the experiment. The chicks were randomly distributed to 15 pens of 15 chicks each, which were randomly distributed to 5 treatment rations. Treatments were ration containing 0, 7, 14, 21, 28% SBM for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design. Chicken were weighed in group with sensitive balance until three weeks on weekly base and individually thereafter until the end of the experiment (49 days). At the end of the experiment 6 birds were randomly selected and slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics. Daily feed intake during starter phase (39, 46.4, 51.7, 54.1 and 53.8g), finisher phase (105.7, 127.7, 149.7, 153 and 149.9 g) and the entire experimental period (67.6, 80.5, 93.7, 96.5 and 95 g, for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively) were higher in T3, T4, and T5 than T1 and T2. The final weight (1167.7, 1380.7, 1763.7, 1825.4, 1851 g) and total body weight gain (1119.16, 1332, 1714.25, 1776.2 and 1806.6g, for T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively) for the entire experimental period was higher in T5 and T4, medium in T3, lower in T1 and T2. The FCR during finisher phase and entire period did not differ among treatments, but FCR during starter phase was significantly higher in group fed ration containing 0% and 7% SBM. Slaughter, dressed carcass, eviscerated and drumstick-thigh weight were higher in T5, T4 and T3 than T1 and T2. There was no significance difference (P>0.05) between the treatments in Drumstick-thigh, dressing and Eviscerated percentage. Liver, lung, heart, and kidney weight were increased when the level of SBM increased. Small intestine and ceaca weight were higher in T5 but lower for T1. There was no significant difference among treatments in mortality percentage during the experimental period. The highest profit per bird and net return was recorded by T5. In conclusion, 28% SBM inclusion in the diet of broiler is recommended due to its positive impact on performance of broiler and economic benefit
