THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF USING SUPERNATANT OF FERMENTED MAIZE (Omidun) AS COMPARED WITH COMMERCIALLY PREPARED PROBIOTICS IN BROILER PRODUCTION

Abstract

The research aimed to study the cost benefits of using supernatant of fermented maize (SFM) (Omidun) as a probiotic on productivity of broiler chicken. One hundred- and fifty-day-old Cobb500 broiler chicks were divided into five groups of 30 birds each in triplicates. Group A served as the negative control,
group B were given commercially prepared probiotics (Beta probiotics), while groups C, D and E were given standardized Omidun at 10, 5 and 2.5ml/l, respectively on daily basis for six weeks. Body weight (BW), weight gain (WG) and feed intake (FI) were measured weekly and feed conversion ratio was
calculated. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in the growth parameters either weekly or cumulatively, although, group C had the best performance biologically. The highest mean cumulative FI was recorded in group B followed by groups E, C, D and A, respectively. Production cost was least in group A (₦377.38/bird), followed by groups E (₦403.22/bird), D (₦420.30/bird) and C (₦463.22/bird), while it was highest in group B (₦909.68/bird). Also, groups A and C had the highest gain margin, followed by those of groups D and E and least in group C. However, the lower production cost and gains
from groups A, D and E were counteracted by higher mortalities recorded in these groups, compared to group C. Therefore, it was more cost effective to use SFM at 10ml/l than at lower doses of 5 and 2.5ml/l as well as than using commercially prepared probiotics.