Sunflower cake as a substitute for groundnut cake in commercial broiler chicks diets

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of replacing groundnut cake (GC) with decorticated sunflower cake (DSC) on broiler chicks performance. A total of 72 one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used. The experiment lasted 6 weeks (0-42 day). Three experimental diets were supplied ad-libitum. The GC in broiler chicks starter (260g/Kg) and finisher (185g/Kg) diets was replaced with DSC at 50 and 100% on an isocaloric and isonitrogenous basis. Replacement of GC with DSC at 50 and 100% had no significant effect (P>0.05) on body weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency of broiler chicks during starter, finisher and the whole period. It was concluded that DSC can replace up to 100% of GC in broiler chicks starter and finisher diets. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008.