Palm kernel meal as a feed for poultry. 2. Diets containing palm kernel meal for starter and grower pullets

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to establish the level at which palm kernel meal can replace groundnut cake in the diets of starter and grower pullets and also to investigate the carry-over effect of palm kernel meal given during the growing stage on laying performance. With starter pullets, palm kernel meal protein could replace up to 60% of the protein supplied by groundnut cake without any deleterious effect on their performance. This level of replacement amounted to 34% of palm kernel meal. Beyond this level the rate of gain was significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced and feed gain ratio significantly ( P < 0.05) increased. The replacement of all the groundnut cake protein by palm kernel meal in the diet of grower pullets did not significantly affect any of the parameters measured. Cost of feed kg −1 gain decreased as the level of palm kernel meal increased. The palm kernel meal in the grower diet did not significantly affect the rate of egg production, egg weight, weight of first egg dropped and feed intake.