91 Animal acceptability trail of olive pomace on Gallus gallus domesticus

Abstract

Abstract In any livestock production system, feed is the most costly production input. The goal of any producer is to find a feed source or combination of sources that provide a balance of nutrients that meet the requirements for maintenance, growth, and performance while efficiently contributing to favorable carcass attributes at a low cost. Olive pomace is a by-product of the olive oil industry which can serve as a source of fat (14%), protein (3.6%), and fiber (44.5%). This by-product has potential as a supplemental source of energy and other essential nutrients to be blended into livestock rations. The objective of this study was to conduct an animal acceptability trial using a mixture of olive pomace and commercial poultry feed to determine which blend of feed and pomace would be most acceptable or most desired to broilers. Two pens, consisting of 20 broilers 34 days of age when put on trial, the broilers were provided three mixtures of feed in separate feeders. Feeders were filled with either a 1:3, 1:1, or 3:1 olive pomace to commercial broiler feed mixture (O:C). Daily consumption rates were used to determine ration preference. The troughs were rotated, twice daily, within each pen to eliminate location preference. The broilers found the 1:3 ratio to be the most preferred, (P < .001) while the 3:1, and 1:1 ratio of O:C. did not differentiate (P < .39) continuation of this study will be to feed a control group a commercial broiler feed, along with a 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 O:C to determine the effect on performance and carcass attributes of each group.