Growth Performance of Paraokan x Banaba Native Chickens Given Ground Yellow Corn (Zea mays), Soybean (Glycine max) Pulp Meal and Azolla (Azolla sp.)

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the growth performance of Paraokan x Banaba native chickens given ground yellow corn (GYC), soybean pulp meal (SPM) and azolla meal in terms of gain in weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, and feed cost to produce a kg gain, and morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted at the Benguet State University Experiment Area in Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet from February 25 to May 5, 2016. There were forty 14 day-old chicks used in the study which were randomly distributed into two treatments following the Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The T1- 50% GYC, 45% SPM, 5% azolla meal and T2- 60% GYC, 35% SPM, 5% azolla meal. Each treatment was replicated four times with five birds in each replicate, with a total of 20 birds per treatment. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the treatments in the initial and final weight, total and average daily gain in weight of the native chickens. On the other hand, there were significant differences on the average daily feed intake and total Feed intake, while there was a highly significant difference between treatments on feed conversion ratio. The birds had a mean initial weight of 107.75g at 14 days and a mean final weight of 283.6g at 70 days after 56 days of feeding trial. The mean total gain in weight and average daily gain in weight of birds given 50% GYC + 45% SPM + 5% azolla meal was 175.3 g and 3.1 g, respectively, while birds given 60% GYC + 35% SPM + 5% azolla meal had a mean of 176.4g and 3.2g, respectively. In terms of average daily feed intake and total feed consumption, birds fed 50% GYC + 45% SPM + 5% azolla meal had a mean of 23.45g and 1313.3g, respectively, while birds fed 60% GYC + 35% soybean pulp meal + 5% azolla meal had 21.50g and 120.4g, respectively. A feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 7.50 was computed from the birds given 50% GYC + 45% SPM + 5% azolla meal, and 6.83 in birds given 60% corn + 35% SPM + 5% azolla meal. On the other hand, the mean feed cost per kilogram gain in weight of birds fed 50% GYC + 45% SPM + 5% azolla meal was Php 112.57, while birds fed 60% GYC + 35% SPM + 5% azolla meal was Php 110.69. Based on the results of the study, it is therefore concluded that the two experimental diets used in this study have comparable effects on the growth and feed efficiency of native chickens.