Carcass Traits, Organ Proportion and Bio-Economic Cost Benefits Analysis of Broiler Chickens Fed Different Dietary Plant Protein Sources in Sorghum-Based Diet

A 56-day study was carried out to evaluate the carcass characteristics and organ proportions of broiler chickens fed sorghum-based diets with varying plant protein. A total of 120 day-old broiler chickens from a reputable and disease free farm were used for this study. There were four treatments, each having thirty broiler birds replicated thrice with ten broiler birds per replicate using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The broiler birds were offered feed and water ad libitum. The growth parameters were taken on weekly basis. Carcass evaluation was carried out at the end of the trial. One bird per replicate was randomly selected, fasted over-night and slaughtered by severing the jugular vein. After scalding in warm water for about a minute, the feathers were manually plucked, each bird was cut into parts for carcass evaluation. The relative weights of the cut parts were as a percentage of dressed weight. The internal organs, such as heart, kidney, gizzard/proventriculus were all weighed separately and recorded using electric micrometer (3000g weighing gauge). The findings from this study showed that all the carcass parameters considered showed significant differences (p<0.05). Birds fed diet 3 gave the best live weight, slaughtered weight, defeathered weight, dressed weight and commensurate cut-parts. Soybean (whether cake or full-fat) demonstrate superiority over groundnut cake and cashew nut cake. Birds fed diet 3 gave the highest value of thigh, breast -cut, drumstick and wings, while birds fed diets 2, 1 and 4 gave less. The organ proportions of broiler chickens fed different dietary plant sources have all the parameters significantly difference (p<0.05), except the lungs though without any definite pattern. Average weight gain and feed conversion ratio were better (p<0.05) among birds fed diet 2, and 3. Cost benefits analysis per kilogram in naira terms for birds fed different plant protein sources in a sorghum-based diets were significant (p<0.05) among treatment levels. Least cost per kg feed was obtained in diet 1 (p<0.05). Cost of weight gained was (p<0.05) low in T1. Cost of feed consumed was low for diet T1 and T3. Revenue, gross margin and cost benefit ratio estimated were found to high (p<0.05) among T2 and T3. Broiler chickens fed diet 3 gave the best parameters. The actual contributions of the experiment, is to alternatively replace corn with sorghum completely at least cost with optimum performance.