Abstract
The study investigated the effect of replacing maize with alternatives (white sorghum, red sorghum, grey millet and brown millet) on the growth performance and cost benefit of broiler chicken. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) day-old Aboica strain broiler chicks were purchased for this study and were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments. The five is caloric and is nitrogenous diets for both the starter and finisher phases were formulated with the test ingredients (yellow maize, white sorghum, red sorghum, grey millet and brown millet) as the main source of energy and were designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. Each treatment was further divided into three replicates with ten (10) birds per replicate. The parameters investigated were growth performance and economics of production. This study revealed no significant (p>0.05) differences in weight gain among all the treatment. Furthermore, it showed a significantly (p>0.05) lower cost of producing the four alternatives as compared to the control (maize) and higher gross profit. It was concluded that white sorghum, red sorghum, grey millet and brown millet can replace yellow maize without any adverse effect on the health status and general performance of broiler chickens.
Publisher
Centre for Research on Islamic Banking and Finance and Business