Abstract:
A total of 120 day old Cobb-500 broiler chicks were used to evaluate the effect of partial
substitution of maize with potato peel meal on the production performance and carcass
characteristics. The experimental chicks were randomly grouped into 12groups each with 10
chicks of comparable mean group weight and housed in separate experimental pens. Finally four
starters treatment rations containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% of potato peel meal as substitute of maize
were randomly assigned to the experimental chicks in completely randomized design with 3-
replicate. At the end of the 21 days feeding period, the experimental chicks were switched to four
finishers treatment rations containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% of potato peel meal as substitute of
maize. The data collected on the production performance and carcass characteristics were
subjected to statistical analysis of variance. The results obtained showed that substitution of
maize with 5-15% of potato peel meal negatively affected feed consumption and body weight
gain of the experimental chicks during the first week of the feeding trial. However, there was
improvement in feed intake and body weight gain of the treatment groups placed on 5-15% of
potato peel meal as substitute for maize starting from the 2nd week of the feeding trial.
Significantly higher (P<0.05) mean weekly feed intake was recorded for the group fed on the
treatment containing 5-15% potato peel meal as substitute for maize during the last two weeks of
the feeding trial. Mean body weight of 2.1 kg was attained by all the groups fed on the treatments
containing 5-15% potato peel meal, the values of which was significantly higher(P<0.05) than
that of the group fed on control treatment ration at the end of 42 days of the feeding trial.
Moreover, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) among all the groups fed on the
treatments containing 5-15% potato peel meal in mean final body weight attained at the end of
42 days of the feeding trial. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between all the
treatment groups in mean feed conversion ratio throughout the feeding trial of 42 days. The
results obtained also showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between all the
treatment groups in carcass characteristics and meat chemical composition. The partial budget
analysis showed that the highest net of return was recorded for the groups fed on the treatment
containing 15% potato peel meal as substitute for Maize. The results of the current study
indicated that potato peel meal could be safely and economically included at 5-15% into broilers
ration as substitute of Maize. Further research should be conducted on its effectiveness on
layers.
