210
5–10%, while inclusion levels of up to 50% of the diet were reported in other
studies (Léder 2004) without compromising growth performance and carcass
weights (Davis et al. 2003). However, in this study, the diet with 50.82% pearl
millet in starter diets and 69.8% in finisher diets had the lowest growth performance and carcass weights. This difference could be due to types and varieties
of millet used.
In this study, the high growth performance for 10% and 20% pearl millet-based
diets were also associated with improved feed conversion ratio and higher average
weight gain than the other two treatments as has been reported in earlier studies
(Baurhoo et al. 2011a, b). Positive results have also been reported by BatononAlavo et al. 2015; Ibitoye et al. 2012).
4.3 Effects of Different Pearl Millet Inclusion Levels on Cost
of Production
Reducing costs and hence increasing profits is an important element of any
profit- making business enterprise. In poultry, feed comprises the major cost in a
broiler enterprise. Results showed that lowest cost of feed per broiler was on
broilers fed the maize-based diet, followed by the 10% pearl millet-based diet.
From the results, cost tended to increase with increasing levels of pearl millet
inclusion. This was so because the cost of millet was higher than that of maize.
Key to this finding is that while pearl millet can be included in broiler diets
within the range of 10–20% of the diet, the element of costs should be seriously
considered as it affects profitability of the enterprise. In this study, the higher
cost per broiler for pearl millet based-diets was increased due to transport costs.
These results are at variance with those of Medugu et al. (2010) who reported
that the cost of feed per kilogram of live weight was lower for pearl millet-based
diets than maize-based diets.
One other interesting observation in this study was that increasing levels of
pearl millet tended to lower the amount of soya bean meal used. For example, the
maize–based starter diet had 51.15% soya bean meal while the 10% and 20%
pearl millet- based diets had 49.69% and 48.23% soya bean meal respectively.
This is probably due to the pearl millet, which contributed more crude protein
(13.13%) to the diet than maize with crude protein of 9.38%. Ceteris paribus, this
could lower costs since the price of soybean meal was MK250 ($0.34)
2
per kilogram while millet was less than half of this price. The implication of this finding
is that under ideal conditions, pearl millet can reduce costs associated with protein source feed ingredients, which are generally more expensive than energy
source feed ingredients.
2 1 US $ = MK725
A. C. L. Safalaoh and E. Kavala
5–10%, while inclusion levels of up to 50% of the diet were reported in other
studies (Léder 2004) without compromising growth performance and carcass
weights (Davis et al. 2003). However, in this study, the diet with 50.82% pearl
millet in starter diets and 69.8% in finisher diets had the lowest growth performance and carcass weights. This difference could be due to types and varieties
of millet used.
In this study, the high growth performance for 10% and 20% pearl millet-based
diets were also associated with improved feed conversion ratio and higher average
weight gain than the other two treatments as has been reported in earlier studies
(Baurhoo et al. 2011a, b). Positive results have also been reported by BatononAlavo et al. 2015; Ibitoye et al. 2012).
4.3 Effects of Different Pearl Millet Inclusion Levels on Cost
of Production
Reducing costs and hence increasing profits is an important element of any
profit- making business enterprise. In poultry, feed comprises the major cost in a
broiler enterprise. Results showed that lowest cost of feed per broiler was on
broilers fed the maize-based diet, followed by the 10% pearl millet-based diet.
From the results, cost tended to increase with increasing levels of pearl millet
inclusion. This was so because the cost of millet was higher than that of maize.
Key to this finding is that while pearl millet can be included in broiler diets
within the range of 10–20% of the diet, the element of costs should be seriously
considered as it affects profitability of the enterprise. In this study, the higher
cost per broiler for pearl millet based-diets was increased due to transport costs.
These results are at variance with those of Medugu et al. (2010) who reported
that the cost of feed per kilogram of live weight was lower for pearl millet-based
diets than maize-based diets.
One other interesting observation in this study was that increasing levels of
pearl millet tended to lower the amount of soya bean meal used. For example, the
maize–based starter diet had 51.15% soya bean meal while the 10% and 20%
pearl millet- based diets had 49.69% and 48.23% soya bean meal respectively.
This is probably due to the pearl millet, which contributed more crude protein
(13.13%) to the diet than maize with crude protein of 9.38%. Ceteris paribus, this
could lower costs since the price of soybean meal was MK250 ($0.34)
2
per kilogram while millet was less than half of this price. The implication of this finding
is that under ideal conditions, pearl millet can reduce costs associated with protein source feed ingredients, which are generally more expensive than energy
source feed ingredients.
2 1 US $ = MK725
A. C. L. Safalaoh and E. Kavala