Response of Broiler Finisher Birds to Different Dietary Levels of Palm Kernel Cake

This experiment assessed the impact of replacing maize with palm kernel cake on broiler nisher birds as energy source. Sixty marshell breed broiler birds of 28 days old were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates of five birds each. The dietary treatments were: T1 (10% PKC), T2 (20% PKC), T3 (30% PKC), and control T4 (0% PKC). The experiment lasted 28 days. Analysis of the results revealed that the final body weight, weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed cost per kilogram of gain were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by the dietary treatment. Birds under T1 (10% PKC) recorded the maximum final body weight (2973.3g), and the maximum gain in growth (1293.0g), with the least FCR (3.21). The control (T4) performed the least in all the above parameters. There was no significant difference(P>0.05) in the mean weight gain. Carcass characteristics showed significant difference(P<0.05) in the heart, liver and intestine. We conclude that palm kernel cake at a 10% inclusion level is a superior energy source in enhancing weight gain and economic efficiency in marshell broiler finisher production.