THE FEEDING AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF MAIZE COB MEAL FOR BROILER CHICKENS

The feeding value of maize cob meal was investigated in a trial involving one hundred and forty Arbor Acre day-old chicks raised to eight weeks of age. The maize cob meal which contained 32.5% fibre, 2.5% protein and had a gross energy value of 2,550 kcal/kg, was incorporated into the experimental diets at either 0, 2.9, 5.8, 11.6 or 23.2% level. All diets were formulated to contain 3,200 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy and approximately 22% protein by varying the proportions of maize and whole cooked soyabean meal in the diets. The inclusion of maize cob meal up to 11.6% in the diet did not significantly (p>0.05) affect body weight gains, feed consumption and utilization, as well as carcass yield and dressing percentage. However, at the 23.2% level of maize cob meal inclusion, body weight gains, feed utilization and carcass yields were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. The use of maize cob meal reduced feed cost for raising birds and either maintained or improved gross profit returns with up to 11.6% level of inclusion in the diet. It was concluded that maize cob meal can be included up to 11.6% in the diet of broiler chickens provided dietary energy concentration is maintained at 3,200 kcal of metabolisable energy per kilogramme of feed by using high energy density feed ingredient such as boiled whole seed soyabean meal.